The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-29
Communicated

Following the annual meeting OF
their North Dakota and Montana
brethren two weeks ago, the South
Dakota Sioux, chiefly from the Diocese
of Lead, held their oath annual Con-
gress at Wakpala, S. D., sub-agency
point on the great Standing Rock Res
ervation last week
This second great Congress COM
menced on Thursday with the arrival
of hundreds of teams from all parts of
South Dakota, bearing Indian families
from points as far distant as $50 miles
from Wakpala. The Indians immedi-
ately went into camp as we'll as made
active preparations to receive the
Bishop in royal state. Bishop LaWler,
however, arrived by auto from Lead
after two-days' drive, before the re-
ception committee could complete the
program.
BY Friday morning more than 1000
Indians had camped about the little
mission church and in the valley OF
Wakpala creek hard by. The mission
church stands on an eminence from
which one secures a far-reaching view
of the Wakpala valley as well as of a
considerable portion of the Dakota
prairie land. To view the hundreds of
tents, each with it's little camp fire,
was an inspiring sight indeed, while
at intervals of about five minutes one
hears the official herald calling the
people to Confession, or perhaps an
nouncing some bit of interesting news.
Opening of Congress.
The Congress was formally open at
nine o'clock with Solemn High
Mass by Father Negahnquet, the Pot
tawatomie Indian priest. The deacon
of the Mass was the other Indian
priest, Father Gordon. Bishop Lawler
occupied a seat in the sanctuary and
during the Mass preached an eloquent
sarnon. Father Bernard, @. b. for
nearly thirty years Sioux Missionary.
on the Standing Rock Reservation, in
terpreted the Bishops sermon for the
Indians. The Bishop formally declar-
ed the sessions of the Congress open
urging the Indians to make the most
of their collected wisdom. Friday al
ternoon was spent by the Indians IN
routine Congress business.
Saturday, at nine o'clock, Father
Gordon sang the Solemn High Mass
assisted by Father Negahnquet and
Father Benedict, o. S. B., Fort Peck
Reservation, Montana. Father Fran
els, o. s. B., Superintendent of the
Martin Kenel School, Standing Rock
preached powerful sermon in the
Sioux language. Bishop Lawler, who
assisted at the Mass in cappa magma
then administered the Sacrament OF
Confirmation to over 100 Indians, in
Guiding several very aged ones.
A Unique Banquet.
Saturday noon, the Right Reverend
Bishop with the assembled clergy
were guests of honor at giant barbe
cue given by Mr.. Joe Claymore, we'll
to-do Sioux. Five beeves were killed
for the feast and wagonloads of othel
eatables were provided. This abun
dance was not required so much TO
the numerous clergy as for the mvlt
cd guests who were numbered by thu
hundreds. Every precaution was. tax
en- to insure comfort for the Bishol
and his priests, perhaps the most In
teresting arrangement being the Prov
sion of four alert men, armed Wit
ffy-swatters, who were literally human
tly-chasers. Two of these were as
signed to the Bishop himself. Anotf
er Indian was officially tanner" Will
others were engaged in other works
mercy. The clergy were seated at
long table under a shady bower AM
were served in regular Waldorf-Asto
style. The guests from the laity, how
ever, we're seated in huge circle an
were served Tin the absence of SUI
ficient number of knives, forks an
. plates) direct from the kettle. As tW
strong men bore the kettle from pc
son to person, a large hand was see
40 protrude itself from under blal
ket or a shawl and seize upon tn
most likely looking piece of meat. tn
kettle-men then moved forward an
the feast continued. During the a
tual eating process, seVeral Speeche
were made. Afterwards, a photo
rapher took pictures of the remar
able banquet, whilst Mr.. Claymol
showered his guests with gifts of a
sorts. Bishop Lawler received mocc
sins, Father Ketcham, through n
representative Father Bergs, receive
a pair of saddle-bags, Father Bers
himself received tanned cow-hid
Father Gordon several pairs of mocc
sins on the occasion of his form
adoption into the Sioux nation. a
cient enemies of his own tribe, Il
Ojibwa. Father Gordon, whose OH
wa name reads Ti-bish-ko1gi-jik,
ceived the name of the famous Siol
chieftain-orator, John Grass. ~
name is Mik-toigh-la-mi-na, meanil
Charging Bear"
Following the feast, Bishop Lawl
attended the afternoon session Of =