29-year-old dies during Sun Dance on Pine Ridge Reservation

OGLALA, S.D. - A 29-year-old Martin, South Dakota man died during a Sun Dance on the Pine Ridge Reservation, according to his wife Brianna Movescamp. Movescamp says her husband, Wakan Mani Movescamp, was suffering from heatstroke as he participated in the Native American sacred ritual July 25 near Oglala, South Dakota.

“This particular Sun Dance is where they don’t allow you to have anything-water or food-for the entire four days. You’re just out in the sun. It was ugly. It was rough. He was having a hard time,” Brianna said.

Despite the difficulties, Wakan was determined to complete the Sun Dance, according to Brianna. She said that several people had dropped out because of the heat, so he was the only Native American left performing the ritual. According to the tribe’s culture, if a Native American man doesn’t finish all four days, they can’t hold the ceremony for eight years.

“The guy who was leading him encouraged him not to get out, saying his mom needs him to finish. On the third day though he got up, and then laid down for an entire round. They left him dancing until after 11 at night. They should have stopped it sooner,” Brianna said.

After that third day, Brianna described her husband’s body as extremely brittle and fragile.

“You couldn’t even touch him without hurting him. It hurt me to see him in pain,” Brianna said. “But he was glad he made it through the difficult third day. He was in such good spirits. All he had left now was one round on the final day.”

However, event organizers did not start the Sun Dance until afternoon on the final day. Brianna said that by then, the temperatures had soared.

“I was waiting for him all morning. They started to line up, but he wasn’t there. Then I see them dragging him out. He was clearly not okay,” Brianna said. “They were dragging him. Two people were helping hold him up the entire round, and halfway through a third person came in to help keep him up because he couldn't walk. The kids were asking what was wrong with their dad’s eyes because they were rolling into the sky. He couldn’t even walk. They even got him dressed before that. They drug him halfway through the round. We were crying. People were trying to comfort us. I was screaming, watching my husband like that, and my kids are crying.”

Two people were helping hold him up the entire round, and halfway through a third person came in to help keep him up because he couldn't walk.

After the round, Brianna said that they tried to give her husband cherry juice, but he refused. Despite his poor medical condition and Brianna’s protests, Brianna says Wakan was still thrown into the sweat lodge.

“His body was already full on heatstroke I’m sure. He was not okay. I was yelling for them to stop. They drug him in there. Two minutes later they pull him out. He’s looking like he’s dead. They pour a bucket of cold water on him. There were not real medics there. He wasn’t breathing. I started crying and trying to keep my kids calm,” Brianna said.

Wakan was rushed to an ambulance, but Brianna said she was informed that her husband had died shortly after.

“I just lost it. I was angry at the whole world and the people who ran it,” Brianna said. “I don’t know who needs to be held accountable, but I know there’s a lot of wrong that had been done.”

Brianna believes there should have been trained medics at the Sun Dance, and the community’s Medicine Man should have led the event. She also mentioned that there were a couple of signs of bad luck, according to the tribe’s culture, including a knife in the pot, an intoxicated man and a menstruating woman.

“The guy who ran it before would have never let this happen. They wouldn’t have not let me take care of him. They wouldn’t have drug him if he couldn’t have stably stood up. If you can see that they can’t do it, you should pull them out,” Brianna said.

Wakan leaves behind his wife and five children, along with other family members. Brianna said that family and work were Wakan’s life.

“He was well-respected in the community. He was hard-working, caring and kind. He worked his butt off for his kids and me. He went to work Monday through Friday, sometime Saturdays. He was so hard-working, and when he wasn’t working, he was with us. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for me and the kids,” Brianna said.

If you would like to help the family, you can contribute to this GoFundMe account.