An elder Sundancer and his wife need support to go to one last Sundance.

Johnny Creed Coe is a Dakota elder living in Pittsburgh who needs community support to return to Sundance in Pipestone, MN to support his youngest son Pete in his final year dedicated to Sundance. Johnny has been a Sundancer over twenty years and four of his five sons have done the difficult spiritual commitment of Sundancing. Pete is completing his Sundance vow and Johnny is supporting in his giveaway ceremony. This may be the last Sundance where Johnny’s family can gather together for this sacred rite.

Johnny and his wife Tenanche have spent their lives dedicated to keeping their Indigenous cultures alive, sharing their wisdom and artwork with the community across Turtle Island. Johnny has done many giveaway ceremonies, he has led pipe ceremony for his community across Pennsylvania, led prayers and drumming, and has been active in the AIM movement since its inception. It is impossible to list everything Johnny has given the Native community and Turtle Island in general. After a lifetime of praying for everyone, Mother Earth, Pittsburgh, this year Johnny is going to what is his final Sundance to say thank you. A Sundancer delivers the prayers of the people.

The biggest expense of this spiritual journey is the ten nights of hotels and the gas it takes to get there and back. Sundance begins on July 20 and ends on July 27, so Johnny and Tenanche will be traveling from the 18th to the 29th. Getting this expense covered will greatly ease the burden of this journey for these elders who have dedicated so much time and money over decades to their culture.

It is difficult for Johnny to ask for money for this spiritual commitment and he does not expect to go to Sundance for free. He and Tenanche are in poor health and living on a fixed income. They are willing to go into debt because they will not miss this sacred obligation, but this is an opportunity for the community that Johnny has given so much to over the years to come together and support him and his family.

Hotels: 11 x 125 = 1,375

Gas: 500

GFM fees: 60

Total: 1,935

Any additional funds raised will go to the many other costs of attending Sundance.