Last week my family was humbled by our experience at the Standing Rock Tribe's annual Sun Dance in Little Eagle, South Dakota. We had no idea the respect that my brother Varick enjoyed with the Lakota people. But boy did we ever find out!

First and foremost, Gillian and I were amazed at the loving way our family was treated by the tribal elders. We had traveled to the Sun Dance camp to disperse Varick's ashes as he had passed away last November.

Upon arrival, we were treated like royalty by Jesse Taken Alive and his family. Jesse, commonly referred to as Jay, spoke fondly of Varick and the role he had come to play at the Sun Dance. We learned that Varick first participated in the Sun Dance celebration in 1992. Over the next fifteen years, Varick had tended to the fire, ensuring the fire did not go out during each four-day ceremony. Jay explained to us that Varick had earned a special place in the hearts and souls of his people.

Many thanks go to Tom Eagle Staff who worked with my sister Michele to honor Varick in the Washing of the Tears Ceremony. My family sat in a semi-circle in the ring, in front of the Tree that had just been ceremoniously brought in and transformed from the enemy to a Lakota.

Cedric Goodhouse began the ceremony with a heartfelt speech about Varick. Virgil Taken Alive, Jay's brother, followed with an emotionally filled tribute, pausing midway for several seconds, as he choked back tears. Tom Eagle Staff and Jay closed out the speeches, leaving every member of my family in tears.

Jay proceeded to wash away our tears through his prayers, the sharing of the ground meal and water, and the passing of his prized feather over our bodies. Our mourning was over. It had been several months. The singers and drummers played a medley of beautiful music, singing each song in traditional Lakota verse. The tribe presented each member of my family with a lovely wool blanket and proceeded one by one to offer their condolences to my family. We received many, many hugs from Jay's people, most filing by with tears flowing down their faces.

After the ceremony, Tom Eagle Staff, who had spent several years tending to the fire with Varick, led the family to the fire pit where Varick's son Jesse lit the fire in memory of his Dad.

Later in the evening, right before sundown, the family, together with Cedric Goodhouse, Jr. and Iraqi veteran and wounded solider TJ Yellow (himself honored at the Tree Ceremony) trekked to the other side of the valley, climbed the hill where Varick would meditate by himself for a day after the Sun Dance ended.

It was here that we did what we had come to do. Overlooking the majestic valley and the former camp of Sitting Bull, and the present camp of the Sun Dance, with the sun setting in an amazing blaze of glory, and the full moon rising from the east, we let Varick go. It was a magical moment. And then Cedric, the twenty-two year old who Varick babysat sixteen years earlier while his mom and dad danced, asked me if it would be okay if he sang. He sang and it was beautiful.

The sun was setting. The moon was rising. Varick is home. Forever a Lakota brother.

Love,
Pierre