My great-grandfather, Tipi Sapa, Philip Deloria, used to stand here at the Alter of the St. Elizabeth's Church, in Wakpala on the Standing Rock Reservation for 40 years. During those 40 years, there was not one divorce on the Standing Rock Reservation.
It almost happened one time when two men exchanged wives. As soon as Tipi Sapa heard this happened, he hitched up his horse and wagon and went directly to those who had exchanged wives. He said, " Brothers, return your wives!" And they did.
After this happened he would, instead of communion bless them with the Oil of Unction, that was used for wounded warriors. Because he used the Oil of Unction and would not let them take communion, the Bishop came to Wakpala and told him that he should let them take communion.
Tipi Sapa told the Bishop, " Unless Jesus Christ, himself comes to this Church and tells me otherwise, I will continue to give them the Oil of Unction for wounded warriors. The family and our Kinship System are our fundamental strengths. Once we allow this to be broken we will greatly suffer."
Sure enough, after he died, divorce broke out across Standing Rock, across the Oceti Sakowin, and other tribes he served in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. It is important to remember that in those days most Indigenous peoples did not speak English. The Catholic services were in Latin. The Episcopal Church translated all its services into the various Indigenous languages.
As they did not speak English they were not into theology. It was the stories about and spirit and actions of Jesus that inspired them. feeding the People through the Power of the Spirit, Standing up for a woman who was going to be stoned for adultery, and saying those without sin throw the first stone, throwing the money-lenders out of the Sacred Temple, Giving his life for the People, Being betrayed, as Crazy Horse, and other stories of hope and spiritual values they could relate to.
Remember it was against the Law to practice Indigenous spirituality until the US Congress passed the Freedom of American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978. I call these beloved relatives, "True Christians!" For instance, my grandmother Martina Sherwood from Standing Rock would not enter the church if she had any ill feelings toward another person.
Despite the great injustice, cruelty, and undeserved punishment they suffered and continue to suffer, the People of Chief Gall never ceased practicing Cultural and Spiritual Teachings of love, integrity, and generosity toward all members of the Human Family.
The charitable record of the Standing Rock Sioux and the Community of Wakpala is more than outstanding. You can only imagine the great personal sacrifice for the “dirt poor” Communities of Standing Rock to contribute to charitable efforts off the Reservation, but they gave willingly, to those in need, everywhere on Mother Earth
During the early days of WWI, before the United States entered the war, the Standing Rock Sioux, led by the Community of Wakpala, generously donated to Belgium and Armenian relief efforts. They made dramatic contributions to the victims of the San Francisco earthquake and later to flood victims in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Wakpala also donated to Chinese relief programs, as well.
Every member of the Standing Rock Agency was a member of the Red Cross in 1917. That same year more than 5,000 young Oceti Sakowin men voluntarily entered the United States Army, even though they were not recognized as US citizens.
Justice is coming!
