Big Mountain Sundance Los Angeles 1984

[tradishsunfish]

hahahahahaa... thats shits funny. did the hot sand sundance.

[Poggle]

I think the important thing to remember is these men danced for 4 days without food or drink. This is VERY holy.

[ndntoeknee]

im gonna have to dislike.....have a lot of respect for whats going on, but for the recording im going to have to dislike....

[davidwhitecloud]

me blow flute best in Lakota tribe. me make em cd. you buy pay cash,credit card. no check,no trade for beads. whiteman take hunting grounds. store say no beads,cash only. me have 3 squaws many braves. need cash...you buy em cd me buy em firewater. we all happy. thank you....Cloud,ugh.

[TheShoshonestar]

Actually, at the time as this ceremony was going on the U.S, Government was forcibly relocating over 10,000 Traditional Dine' from their ancestral homeland in Northern Arizona, a Sun Dance was going on at the same time, we had just finished a four day yuwipi, we could not be there at the Sun Dance, so we took the prayer to the beach as directed by the dancers at Big Mtn. Ramaonoun you must know what is going on before you critic, there were about 20 of us but the circle grew before we knew it!

[deneheat101]

I have been a Spiritualist for 5 yrs now and it has really changed my life and yes it is really sacred and i agree that some portions of the Sundance should't be recorded and im from Yellowknife,Northwest Territories,Canada,and i committed myself to the Creator of the earth and God and Jesus to aswell,and oneday i would like to dance again and hopefully in America :D

[blackfootboy]

Floyd, he was a good man and actor. He was always staying true to the Native people and every other living being on this earth. He kept the traditions alive and this ceremony is sacred to my people the Blackfeet also. Every year we have a sundance around Glacier National Park. That's where I recieved my Indian name:RunningWolf. Great job Floyd, rest in peace brother. You will not be forgotten.

[Romanorum]

I don't mean any disrespect, but is this a California tribe trying to take the Lakota way, or is this a group of Lakota in California? It really hurts me to see California Indians take our ceremonies and mix it into their own way.

[blackfootboy]

@Romanorum I believe it is Lakota and California tribes combined. But, I feel you.

[shannieshits]

There is a difference from an hounoring ceremony to the actual sundance. I think this was an honouring of gratitude. It is nice to see other races taking part our duti as native. People is to share and respect all. And that also means our other races of people. Good video it gives me hope for the eighth and ninth generations.

[blackfootboy]

@shannieshits Aho

[youmustask]

sad to see how few people are there

[Dragging1Canoe]

what's the "sign" on the pole?

[nativehoney5]

I don't think it should have been on YouTube but he has a point. Yes some strongs have lived by strong oral traditions and thrived. Yet so many of the lesser ones have been almost earsed. I'm of the Nanticoke Delaware Tribe in the state of Delaware. And its a shame but our language has been lost because no one continued it. I wish a recording or record would have been taking. She does have a point more things should be recorded. Yet, I still agree not on YouTube

[calerometra]

well brothers i am not agree with this way of showing a great ceremony a list by youtube ofcourse NOT ..but u have to think about those who are not from our roots and wish to fallow our cosmovision,in all sence´s plese next time ask for permition or reflect about the consecuense´s PEACE!!

[InfiniteMushroom]

Recording a sundance is not offensive as long as it is respected and not exploited for profit.

Of course, it is a gamble to put up video of the sundance to the respectful and profane alike on YouTube. Let us hope that such ceremonies will always be treated with the honor they deserve.

[hannaleeg]

yes i agree..

these shouldnt be recorded and ESPECIALLY posted on the internet!

have respect..

even tho someone says to record, you shouldnt.

some of our ceremonies dont even seem the same anymore cus of stuff like this!

its sad! :(

[Down564]

Yea things like the ceremonies cant be recoreded but without these recored sessions then all would be lost if its not meant to be recored then all of this wouldnt be here there are reasons this has been recored And i believe in that it has a reason why its recorded.

[ojaitimo]

Floyd knew my father in law Clyde McCown, Clydle was from the Mattaponi. He produced the American Indian Hour inn Pasadena.

Big Mountain Support Group got my number, called and asked me to record this that day. At the beginning Floyd asked me not to record a portion that shouldn't be photographed or recorded. I was there that day to record it and to share it here.

One thousand years from now, this may be one of the only recordings.

[ndntoeknee]

@ojaitimo its up to us to pass on OUR teachings....not by recordings!!! these ways are not to be recorded for entertainment...if one wants to learn, they should come to our ceremonies..videos like this make people turn into wannabe medicine men...they learn from videos..and end up hurtn the oyates..

[pimalady]

I don't understand what is happening here, so I won't judge, or jump to conclusions...but ceremonial things should not be recorded and up for display like this. The songs they are singing are sacred and it just shouldn't be here like this. It should br taken down.

[chailese]

floyd was a great man and family friend, but this should have never been put on this or even recorded! this is a sacred ceremony and you can get very sick as rezevil stated! Respect our culture and please understand the meaning of these ceremonies

[ojaitimo]

Chailese, Floyd was indeed a great man. He asked me to record this which I did.

He also asked me not to record a portion of this event that he felt shouldn't be recorded. Out of respect for him and to honor all living things, this video is posted here.

[vengeance1890]

An extremely stupid video...

[ojaitimo]

"There is an ancient Indian saying that something lives only as long as the last person who remembers it. My people have come to trust memory over history. Memory, like fire, is radiant and immutable while history serves only those who seek to control it, those who douse the flame of memory in order to put out the dangerous fire of truth.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman

[aireensupelo]

Bro ur awsome! Thank you...

[abaachi]

This isn't a sun dance, I don't see no piercing, this is an effort to support the Big Mountain sun dance. Though they might be sun dance songs, this is not a sun dance and those that advocate taking it down are using the word too loosely. Gimme a break, I've been to a sun dance and this was no where near it.

[zhaawanodese]

at the beginning of the video it reads that this ceremony coincided with the Big Mountain Sundance. It doesn't say it is a sundance. it still should not have been posted on here tho.

[abaachi]

Hey, it's cool. The people who speak of sacred use the term loosely. If someone wants to post a video then let them. This is for the White people, people back home wouldn't allow this to happen.

[lakotapatience]

Take this down

there is no reason for this to be on here

if you don't want to take it down post your home address and where you go to church so that we can come film you and post it

[charlito1234567]

this is probly why floyd westerman died these should not be recorded........very disrespectful to the native american culture

[firstpersons51]

Greetings, I have seen the video &agree that things such as a Sun Dance are very sacred & should never be on You Tube, neither however should we be teaching others ceremonies or dances who do not know the spiritual importance of those, however it is being done.

There needs to be a teaching from those who know, to those who do not know, not bashing as I am reading here.

Many of us are far from our traditions, but are earnest, we deserve to be taught, not cursed

Thundercloud

[REZDEVIL]

u shouldnt have put this on youtube or record it this is a sacrad dance u can get very sick

[ronman79]

I support and Love all Human People and believe there will be a time of great unions and that Spirituality in its whole truth will be reborn to all Nations.......BUT this is making me blush with embarrassment..... It's a wonder Other people make fun of our ways...LMAO Cha crazy..... I feel sorry for people who fall victim to a way of Life that is so beautiful but thrown way out of context by wanna be medicine people/healers of the same... Shameful!

[kiowatoy]

Yea. Redcrow Westerman has been selling it for years! When your leaders are puting you all in jeopardy. No wonder your resevations can't see. And there still are even more up there on your rez! selling it, even to Europeans! Your people see this and don't want any part of this false spirituality!

[ausdawg2g3]

this is gay why u even showing this .....this guy is just doing it for money......u suppose to be humble......witco...hokahey

[blankmodeproductions]

He sure got rich!...remember there is always a price to pay when you publicize spiritual beliefs like this...

[Jodcob]

he's doing it to shair his culter

[LakotaHoksilaLuta]

What kind of show was this? Bet they made alot of money.....these songs shouldn't be posted on youtube anyway-NOT FOR PUBLIC USE!

[thickbrianq]

LakotaHokshilaLuta, MeyeloKangi here in Montana, I was Hunkapi by mu family in the Allen Districtover at Pine Ridge so I honor my Adopted Lakota Peoples as well as my own Crow, Aho for speaking the truth about these songs and ways, NO VIDEO!!!!

[hockeygoalieisbest]

whats with the punny tree??????

[straight750]

wow I guess I give it to them for trying but!!! the song was all wrong the beat was off if the bat is not right the dancers can not concentrate and what is with the guy in spedos? were is his skirt? whiste fan arm bands a sundance chief once said if you dont have one item needed for the dance you should not dance... and I thought once the tree goes up onbody can go into the water. dont waste water

[eelwoman75]

Whats with the white guy dancing??? I find it hilarious when white people try to dance like natives. I feel kind of embarrassed for them.

[sunkakangi]

Yeah that was pretty funny..lol

Toksa Ake, Lil Sunka Kangi

[coyotemedicine2]

Woulda been cool if Floyd actually knew the songs this cat was singing. Hahaha. It's real cute with all those nons standing around all humble n stuff. Ya real goot one?

[NativeHope]

Washtay! Aho, Mitakuy-api. The suffering the sundancers go through give the impression that the many trials we go through in life are hard, but we do them for our people.

[sas22sas]

hi i live in london england and a very big fan of native americans i love you guy's you are the best and ths most fun face out there i wish there could be native american TV over here and music festerles i totley respect and support you and i whant to learn as much as i can and you are the best in everything music danceing movements your ways culture heritage the clouths you name it everything i love about you alborada indiogenes they are a graet bands i love you just starting to watch powwows

[temidien]

You know, as a White college student who just started studying Indian culture, I think it's really messed up that there are so many people on here giving the poster crap for posting this video. I think it's more important that resources like this be available to outsiders who are trying to understand and learn about these traditions than pointless quibling over the rights/wrongs of recording the ceremony. Like mousiekwe said, there's more good that can come from it than bad.

[thickbrianq]

How can something more good come from people making up their own Mass and holding that Mass on a beach with the wrong songs and reasoning? How can that not hurt people to falsely mislead them, and how is this not different? I am Crow and been in 14 SunDances and this is offensive,but as a white guy I guess you know whats best!

[UmaOya]

Making up a Mass? How can you miss, that Big Mountain Coalition sponsored a prayer on the beach..and they brought people together..in support of Big Mountain and the Sun Dance over there in Az. Selo sang Sun Dance songs all the time..he lived his Way of Life. His Sun Dance ran from 1970-2003. Floyd was his good friend.. he just didn't know the song Selo sang. People praying together in gatherings happens all the time, on and off reservation..Your issue is with it being recorded and posted

[thickbrianq]

yah, I knew my issue was recorded when I typed it in here umaoya, but glad to see you have a firm grasp of the obvious! Unlike you I have my picture on my channel, I am not ashamed to say what I said, these are still our ways and although they will be the final to save the Earth from our destruction I still feel that they have no place in a public viewing, and although I myself have voted to allow some white people in our SunDances it is only when we come to know them that we can share.

[thickbrianq]

Pt.2, umaoya, I have been though 14 SunDances, how many have you been in?, I speak my Language and follow my People's Traditions also but as a NDN I will always honor and respect my Spiritual Traditions as well as those of others unless they seem out of place to me, and again-NO VIDEO!!!!!!!!!Oh yah, I know how many NDN's support the whole BigMountain thingy but a SunDance does not belong in the desert-the Navajo and Pueblo all have their own Medicine and we have no right to impede on their ways

[hypnotherapycw]

is it typical for dancers of the wiwang wacipi to brag about it in public places like this? that is far more offensive than anything i have seen on youtube.

[dalepoulette]

your probley right ApacheSiouxWom but i think there was a reason why they rec this video for today. im sure thet guy who rec this video was asked to do it.  i go to sun dances in south dakota, say hello to sam and loiue, and mike tenfingers, tosheena. im from cape breton N.S. canada. my dad allways takes me to pine ridge. really nice to me up there.

[lonniemarks]

hau this is not an actual sundance its about a sundance, in 1984,i only heard o song being sung , we must not forget our songs now there is in no way any part of a sundance going on in this video, only the smoking of the cannupa, we must remember this way was dying at this time when this video was made our releigion had only been alowed since 1978 so 6 years had past, floyd red crow was a great man, who lived his life for the people, what have you done to protect our sacred ways think about it.

[mousiekwe]

Thank you for doing this ... and for putting up with what you might have had to put up with because of it .. because of doing what was asked of you. Some of our leaders talk about the need for this and I think if one person who watches this and wants to learn more because of it - searches out their own ceremony in their own community - that's one more person closer to creator. So again .. thank you.

[whitmaceo]

no camera's allowed. somebody must have got paid. sellouts!

[ojaitimo]

The Big Mountain Support Group had asked me to record the ceremony that day. There are several minutes missing where Floyd Westerman asked me not to record and anyone to photograph because of the sacred rules you speak of. Smoke was used to purify the group and I was then asked to start recording.

[hypnotherapycw]

what more needs to be said. it is the old phenomenon of the crabs in a barrel and one trying to get out. apparently noone finds anything offensive about thomas mails book "sundancing" where there are pictures of dancers pierced to the tree. but be careful to judge. see who gave permisson there. and all of those out there slinging sh*t... are you PERFECT? perhaps we all ought turn the mirrors inward... also, let us not forget one important FACT:

[hypnotherapycw]

part 2: there are FOUR colors on the sacred hoop. black red yellow AND white. why do you think tankasila na unci maka made that like that? just some strange accident? notice the 4 colors of man. anyway, i am probably wasting my breath. those that hate will find any reason to do so. wopila tankasila na unci maka kici woozen na wokiye kici lakota oyate... oyate yani pikta ca. tasuunka kangi sapa miye yelo. mitakuye oyasin

[thejess08]

what a shame

[wahacanka35]

this is so wrong.why couldn't they do this while there are real lakotas around.I believe people have the right to pray however they want but to have a dude runnin around in short shortz shows how much they know bout respect.Its no wonder why the Hopis have no respect either.

[zyx645]

Your welcome relative, if someone dreamed a way to unite people, and Honored the Gift,

thats a new begining of understanding.

we have to Allways Look for the Good.

By shareing we all become 1 Earth People

[zyx645]

This is hard to understand relatives, we have to look for the good of bringing people together. maybe it led someone to become a sun dancer. we can all be pityful 2ftrs sometime. was the damage worth it, to make it better. will cruelty make it better..

[ojaitimo]

Thanks Zyx645, for your kind words.

You have a good message on your profile about

Good Spirit people.

I am sorry that some of the others object to this video. My hope is that those who were critical and other You Tube viewers can feel something positive like the mother earth spirit that everyone including me felt on the beach that day. One Planet, One People

[thatlummi]

This is why our people suffer so bad, because of sellouts like this. It doesn't matter if he is an actor or not he still has an unwritten law about keeping his peoples ways sacred.

I heard he is terribly ill now, and I never wish anything bad on anyone but you ask for it by doing things like this. Let this be a lesson for the rest of our native people everywhere.

May our creator have pity on him as he is facing his trials.....

[drexelspivy]

the ones who complain and talk the most about giving away medicine secrets are always those who know the least.

[annikamay]

tweetsqueak...ur dumb......Those are buncha hollywood indians

[camilleaaron]

hahaha and the white guy dancin thats some funny shit

[camilleaaron]

haha yeah thats a funny lookin drum and hes talkin bout sundance right by the ocean eh wicked could you imagine how hard it would be to have that kind of ceremony a big body of water like that

[laugust46]

yeah , this does not look real as a lot of people do know this guy is an actor in the Lakota commercials.

[tommy249]

guy in the purples hittin the pipe pretty hard

[ApacheSiouxWom]

HAHAHAHAHA...Oh My God this is so so so BAD Wait tell I show everyone back home in PINE RIDGE South Dakota.I wonder how much he charged !!!????LOL NOT EVEN A REAL LAkota drum lol letS PLAY SUNDANCE What a JOKE This is SICK what kind of skin sells him self like this ???

[kozan00zenji]

Actually, that's Floyd Westerman, who I think might be from Rosebud, his album called "Custer Died For Your Sins." I think this was associated with a conference in L.A. that brought First Nations people together with Buddhists and others in support of Indian causes. I admit. It is a bit out there.

[ojaitimo]

The film Broken Rainbow was being shown in Santa Monica at the same time as the conference and this ceremony. The drum had just been given to him as a gift by the Buddist monk you see in the video. He put away his own drum and used it instead.

[abaachi]

Floyd Westerman is from Sisseton Wahpeton reservation in South Dakota.

[tweetsqueak]

beautiful <3