Hello relatives, comrades, and allies. My name is Sungmanitu. I formed this collective of activists last winter in order to fundraise and bring out wood to keep elderly alive during the winter. This was a great accomplishment for us, and so this summer we helped put on a traditional ceremony known as Sundance that is historically one of the longest standing Sundances that was continued in the Badlands during the period of history they were outlawed.

The way of life the Sundance helps preserve is called “the Red Road” or Chunka Luta which is where our name comes from. It is a message of hope and an offer of direction to those who lack direction, but know it is time to do something to build the world we want to see for the next generation. This traditional seat of power has withstood the test of time against US Imperialism, and therefore I think is worth investing our time and energy in. So we hope to raise a grand total of 30k-35k USD, based on costs incurred at Sundance and the multiplication of available hands, and skilled trades people with tools for their use building the house before winter, moving the roof, feeding people etc.

We also wanted to try and raise money for a comrades wheelchair (10k), and help with a down payment on a car and a cheap trailer to cheapen rental costs of moving trucks (2.5-3k). We are set to launch our website after the webmaster is out of the hospital, and there we will be posting the receipts from the projects, and various updates and newsletter, as well as paying a professional camera person to help us film quality videos of the land and showcase just how much we accomplished in less than a year, with all extra fund we would buy wood to haul and chop there, as well as lay the foundations of the steel distribution center which will also serve as a meeting hall for the Oceti Sakowin traditional headsmen. Along with this will be finishing a four day interview process with my Uncle David Swallow Jr to write his memoir before he dies, and preserve the wisdom and stories that helped me grow, and helped inform the movement we carry forward.

But our goal is so large for this fundraising cycle due to the unique opportunities presented to us; namely the purchasing of 150+ acres of land that has hosted the longest continuing Sundance at these grounds since 82. This is when my uncle took it over from Fools Crow, who continued it from his teacher even while it was illegal to Sundance, and thus it remains a center of power and community, as well as a symbol of resilience. My uncle being the headsmen of the Oceti Sakowin places the cadre in a unique position in the community, where other Indigenous nations like the Crow and Ponca come to us to reclaim their traditions.

The Crow do not hold their national flag, and so when doing ceremony they come to us to retrieve their national flag in shame, for the crimes committed on behalf of the US against us. The Ponca use our Sundance grounds for the Sundance now, and so it is even more important to use this place of international unity to its fullest. To place the movement in the nexus of so many peoples from around the globe who come there to pray, will only legitimize and strengthen our ties to my community there. Not only are we reclaiming sovereignty, but we are preserving dignity, dignity we gain by the land. It is not only construction, but preserving what has withstood the test of time.