Bdé Psíŋ Wóphida -- Friends of Lake Hiawatha

We want to thank you for your contributions towards the stewardship of Bdé Psíŋ /Lake Hiawatha at our Bdé Psíŋ Wóphida event on Sunday, December 15th from 2-4pm at Lake Hiawatha Recreation Center.

Wóphida is a ceremony of giving thanks and showing gratitude as part of Dakhóta Wičhóȟ’aŋ (Dakhóta way of life), and you can expect food, conversation, and a program to celebrate your work throughout recent years.

Our amazing volunteers are the backbone of this work, as the countless hours you’ve spent working to repair and restore Bdé Psíŋ are crucial to begin undoing some of the damage that the lake has experienced for over a century. Historically, Bdé Psíŋ has been a significant place for Dakhóta people and lifeways; Bdé Psíŋ – meaning “Rice Lake” in Dakhód’iapi (Dakhóta language)-- was used for harvesting wild rice by Dakhóta people living at Ȟeyáta Othúŋwe near Bdé Makhá Ská.

In 2024, efforts began to reintroduce psíŋ/wild rice back to the lake, in addition to extensive plantings and further expansion of our restoration area. If you are able, consider bringing a dish to share—sign up on our SignUpGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A9AD2AAAF5C16-53137145-bdepsin

Host or Publisher Friends of Lake Hiawatha