Prairie Awakening–Prairie Awoke celebration honors native elders

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Dallas County Conservation’s 20th annual annual Prairie Awakening–Prairie Awoke celebration was held Sunday, Sept. 9 from 4–8 p.m. at the Kuehn Conservation Area between Redfield and Earlham.

The theme of this year’s celebration was Elders and Trees, and four burr oaks were planted during the festival this year. The ceremonial plantings were done at the four cardinal directions, north, south, east and west. The trees physically and symbolically honor the Elders who were instrumental in the creation of the annual celebration.

“These trees serve as a testament to our remembrance of the importance of Elders and will comfort us with their shade at future awakenings,” said Dallas County Conservation Environmental Education Coordinator Chris Adkins.

Traditional drumming, singing and dancing were shared in the afternoon, and world champion hoop dancer Dallas Chief Eagle of Pine Ridge, S.D., performed an exhibition dance with his daughter, Delacina Chief Eagle.

A rehabilitated raptor was released back into the wild skies above the tallgrasses prairie of the Kuehn Conservation Area. Story telling continued after the the autumn hues of the prairie disappeared in the dusk and the ceremonial bonfire was lit.

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