The 9th annual RedCan invitational graffiti jam is just one week away, and CRYP staff and volunteers are preparing to welcome artists, performers and guests to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation for four days of art, culture and connection. The first and only event of its kind in Indian Country, the award-winning RedCan event is scheduled for July 5-8 and is free and open to the public.
This year’s featured artists are East, Cyfi, Hoka, Biafra, Wundr, 179, Lawst, Lucious, Rezmo, TamiJoy, Yukue, and Desi Mundo. During the four painting days, each artist will work closely with a CRYP Lakota Art Fellow or teen intern, giving the community’s young people valuable opportunities to learn new skills, practice new techniques, and connect with Native and non-Native artists from around the country.
The action begins on July 5-6, when the 12 artists will be painting large-scale murals at select sites across the city of Eagle Butte — transformative public art that will bring Lakota stories, language and values to life. While the featured artists paint in the community, volunteers from Ursuline College and the University of Missouri-St. Louis will be offering youth activities at Dairy Queen, 24325 U.S. Hwy 212, and at the apartment complex on Main Street between H and G streets, where last year’s “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ” RedCan mural is located.
On Friday and Saturday, July 7-8, all the action will be centered in the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park. In addition to the mural painting and youth art activities, the schedule in the art park also includes traditional Lakota dancing, hoop dancing classes, games, and refreshments.
CRYP will close each of these painting days with a free community meal and special live performances. The Wake Singers, an Olgala Lakota rock band comprising cousins Douglas, Michael and Reed Two Bulls, will take the Waniyetu Wowapi stage on Friday.
Cheyenne River Lakota and Crow Creek Dakota rap artist, producer and sound designer Bazille will perform Saturday evening. Afterward, CRYP will welcome renowned Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers for the final performance of RedCan 2023.
RedCan 2023 Schedule:
July 5: Community
11 a.m.: Animal magnets and moon sand at Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
2 p.m.: Jewelry-making and keepsake origami boxes at Dairy Queen parking lot
July 6: Community
11 a.m.: Watercolor art, nature mandalas, and fortune tellers at Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
2 p.m.: Spin art and paper-plate masks at Dairy Queen parking lot
July 7: Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park
11 a.m.: Cloud dough and sidewalk chalk
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lakota Dance Exhibition
2 p.m. Field Day games, friendship bracelets
6 p.m.: “Build Your Own Fiesta Bowl or Burrito,”a community meal hosted by the UMSL volunteer group
7 p.m.: Live performance from the Wake Singers
July 8
11 a.m.: Design your own superhero: mask, cape, bookmark; “Calm Down” jars
2 p.m.: Slime-making
2 p.m.: Hoop-dancing workshop
4 p.m.: Water Field Day: capture the waterfall (flag), water target practice, frozen T-shirts, water slide kickball
6 p.m.: Community meal hosted by the CRYP staff.
7 p.m.: Live performances from Bazille and the Sampson Bros.
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will open and close each day of RedCan with a prayer, smudging and drum song at CRYP’s Čhokáta Wičhóni (Center of Life) teen center for all who wish to participate.
To view the new “RedCan: Changing the Narrative” short film, visit CRYP on Vimeo at vimeo.com/lakotayouth (direct link: https://vimeo.com/793015587).
To learn more about this year’s RedCan artists and performers, and to make a tax-deductible contribution to support RedCan 2023, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan.
And to learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.