Sacred Pipe Resource Center grand opening brings community together for advocacy work, Halloween treats and games

Around 15 community members partook in Halloween treats and games while attending the celebration at 925 Basin Ave., Unit 2. Many participants won sweets while playing Plinko, cornhole and spin-the-wheel. Others talked with Sacred Pipe staff to learn more about the advocacy work and cultural activities being done by the Native-led organization.

Valerie Siqueiros, a Bismarck resident, said she’s glad Sacred Pipe is now located nearby. Before, she and her daughter would have to find a ride to get to the art studio in downtown Mandan for workshops, such as the dentalium earring and community mural gatherings.

“We never really got to do any of the activities, because they were in Mandan,” said Siqueiros. “But now that they’re in Bismarck and literally down the street from us, we can participate more.”

While the resource center was looking for a new building to relocate to for more space, a sewer pipe leakage accelerated the move. Cheryl Kary, the executive director of Sacred Pipe, said they shut down their office during parts of September because the sewer leak left an unpleasant odor in the building.

“We’ve been outgrowing our old space,” said Kary. “I like the fact that we have four different spaces that we can use for activities. Before we only had two, a conference room and another room.”

The organization relocated from its home in Mandan to south Bismarck. United Tribes Technical College President Leander McDonald lent the Sacred Pipe team a truck and sent maintenance workers to help move the nonprofit to its new location just down the street from UTTC. Staff members have been unpacking and getting settled since Oct. 1.

Sacred Pipe’s Open House introduced the organization to others in Bismarck. Karla Charbonneau, a local resident who previously participated in some of the center’s art activities, never got a chance to visit their old building.

Now that the building is closer to home, she is curious as to what activities she can join out of the various council meetings, community engagement and advocacy work provided. “I got their calendar so me and my son are definitely going to check out the things that we are interested in,” Charbonneau said.

Transportation is an issue for many of Sacred Pipe’s clients, who rely on Bis-Man Transit, rideshares or being dropped off by friends and family. Kary recognizes the issue and said the center will continue to provide transportation to those who want to participate in activities.

“I know traveling all the way to the west side of Mandan was difficult for people,” said Kary. “I also want people to know that we still want to serve the people of Mandan because we believe that Mandan-Bismarck is a Native community.”

For Siqueiros, a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Sacred Pipe fulfills a need for more Native-centered cultural activities and activism in the community. Without the organization, she and her teenage daughter wouldn’t have as much exposure to their heritage.

“Being in an urban area is really important for me to be able to expose her to cultural activities, because they haven’t been doing anything for Natives at her school so far,” Siqueiros said.

Despite not winning a prize herself, Siqueiros said her favorite part of the open house was watching her husband win a round of spin-the-wheel. She said she also can’t wait to come back for the Journey of Life doll-making workshop later in the month.