By Mark W. Olson

The sounds of drums, singing and jingle dresses filled McKnight Park during Saturday’s “Chaske Cikala Wacipi” or Little Dance in Chaska.

The dance (commonly known as a pow wow) presented a wide variety of North American and Mexican Indian cultures. There were 63 dancers, including 20 Mexica (Aztec) dancers.

“I’m really pleased with the way things turned out,” said Chaska resident Walt Ripplinger, organizer of the event.

The wacipi was scheduled from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., but was cut short by one hour due to hot temperatures, which topped out at 88 degrees. Throughout the day, there were an estimated 300 to 400 spectators coming and going, who watched the dancing, ate at concession booths and purchased American Indian crafts.

“I heard several times over from different people that they were ‘squeezing’ a couple of events (including family gatherings into their Saturday schedules, but they didn’t want to miss the wacipi in Chaska,” said Nate Bostrom, president of the Jonathan Association, a sponsor of the event.

“Several of the longtime residents of Jonathan who were in attendance told me that ‘This is the sort of event that [Jonathan founder] Henry McKnight would have loved’ and that means a lot to the present Jonathan Board of Directors,” Bostrom said.

The dance was 30 days in the making – something almost unheard of for a pow wow, Ripplinger said. “There were four different contest pow wows going on that same weekend, and the Renaissance Festival had it’s opening day on Saturday. We had stiff competition, and to get 40-plus dancers for the first time out is just spectacular.”

Ripplinger gives a lot of credit for the success of the event to the volunteers, Chaska Parks Department staff, and the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, which helped out and lent several canopies for the event.

Mayor Mark Windschitl, three councilors and former Mayor Gary Van Eyll attended the event. “I think we’ve come a long, long way since the mounds issue, and that makes me happy – it really does,” said Ripplinger, of the debate over protecting the Indian burial mounds in City Square Park.

While Ripplinger was exhausted from the experience, he’s already dreaming of future wacipis, perhaps incorporating new elements, such as Japanese and African drum groups. “If we could do this twice a year – once outdoors and once in the community center, man would that make me happy,” Ripplinger said.