Uriah Little Hoop 11/13/2024
Oglala Sicangu Lakota and Dine Tribes
Alliance, Nebraska
Uriah Little Hoop kicked off her presentation at Haskell Auditorium by speaking in Lakota and acknowledging the Haskell seminar class, whose members had just presented their Haskell Legacy projects. She then shared her personal journey of cultural discovery through powwow singing, dancing, and regalia-making, explaining how these practices helped her connect with her Lakota identity.
Uriah spoke about the challenges she faced when transitioning from a traditional spiritual home off-reservation to life at HINU, describing her first taste of freedom and the obstacles that came with it. She highlighted the limited availability of spiritual leaders and ceremonies at HINU, and shared how she stepped in to sing for her peers during a campus ceremony. This experience inspired her to pursue the idea of establishing a sweat lodge at HINU to better serve students’ spiritual needs.
Reflecting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uriah discussed how the disruptions affected her academic life, powwowing, and ceremonies, ultimately leading her to return home to Alliance, Nebraska. She expressed the emotional toll of being dismissed from HINU and the struggles she faced during her time away. However, she found solace in prayer and perseverance.
In closing, Uriah encouraged HINU students to prioritize balance in their lives and make thoughtful decisions, offering a message of hope and resilience despite the challenges they may face. She visited Haskell as a guest speaker last year spreading a message of anti-bullying and introduced the universal women’s sweat lodge or “Inipi” to the community. She welcomed ladies from all tribal nations to join her in a evening of singing and prayer. Little Hoop said, “Meet yourself halfway with your spirituality and talk to creator. We are blessed because we are the only ones with this connection with the earth and still have our ceremonies.”
Little Hoop explains the INIPI (sweat lodge ceremony).
“It helped relieve my anxiety, depression and feeling of being indifferent; it helped me let go. There’s something about sacrificing your sweat and your time and hearing others out; it makes you feel good. We have to value our ceremonies and take pride in being Indian. The beautiful thing about our ways is that it’s always there no matter if you fall off.”
Uriah continues to be a role model for the Haskell community and teacher for the upcoming generations of lady singers in the Lawrence community and across Indian Country.
