On Monday, October 10, 2022, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Western Spirit will host “Gift to Honor Chief Henry Red Cloud.” At this historic event, two culturally significant objects, a personal pipe and an elaborate ceremonial pipe that, according to their provenance, once belonged to Chief Red Cloud (1822-1909), will be gifted to his direct-lineal descendant, Chief Henry Red Cloud, by William Ridenour, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Western Spirit.
Chief Red Cloud 1822-1909
Chief Henry Red Cloud will receive the pipes and will speak about the importance of returning sacred and personal items to Native American tribes. The pipes will be on loan to The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and will be on display to honor the great Oglala War Chief Red Cloud. Great-grandson of Edward Curtis and President of the Curtis Legacy Foundation, John Edward Graybill, will also be present for the event. “Gift to Honor Chief Henry Red Cloud” will be a ticketed event—complimentary with a $30 donation to Western Spirit.
Chief Henry Red Cloud and John Red Cloud
Chief Henry Red Cloud works to better the lives of Native American communities by implementing renewable energy projects nationwide as the Executive Director of Red Cloud Renewable, based on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He is also the founder of Lakota Solar Enterprises and his efforts have been recognized both here in the United States and around the world. Chief Henry Red Cloud is the fifth-generation descendant of Chief Red Cloud and was born on the current homeland of the Oglala Lakota, the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where he continues to reside.
