A Brief History of Sacred Indigenous Preservation (SIP)

The founders and elders of Sacred Indigenous Preservation (SIP) are activists from the early 1970s who saw the need to create an active organization that would stand in solidarity for the protection of the places where traditional Native American ceremonies were being held. Over the years, unfortunately, there have been many instances where law enforcement and/or county authorities have tried to prohibit Indigenous People’s ability to hold their traditional ceremonies, such as sweat lodge and vision quest, which is why SIP was founded. It evolved from what is also called the Hummingbird Community.

SIP stands in solidarity with indigenous people to gather in ceremony to pray in their traditional ways. SIP has helped raise awareness and funds for local Indigenous groups to continue to hold their ceremonies. SIP has preserved the wisdom teachings of the Elders and helped pass on the knowledge for future generations about ceremony and the environment, ways of living, and culture of Indigenous people.

Sacred Indigenous Preservation is committed to maintaining the integrity of these traditional ceremonies and preserving them, so that future generations will be able to pray in the ways that our Elders have taught our people for many generations. The knowledge of ceremonial ways is passed down orally from generation to generation. This information has not been readily available to many Native Americans. The Elders in our community have a provenance of oral knowledge taught by Elders that lived in the 1800s. These generational teachings are the closest teachings we have to the original ceremonial ways of the Native American peoples.

In a world that is rapidly changing and adjusting to new technologies and ways of being, SIP provides a solid foundation for Native American people to peacefully stand on the roots of their ancestral wisdom. SIP is committed to educating and providing support for all indigenous peoples, including those who may have lost their way. SIP also provides support and wellness for many local veterans, formerly incarcerated, and people who are in recovery. SIP provides an opportunity for Native Americans to reconnect with their tribal wisdom. SIP has helped many indigenous people regain their confidence as Native Americans and help heal the disconnection to native culture.

Since 1986, people have come to our community of sweat lodges for purification ceremonies. There have been indigenous people who have joined the group that had lost all connection to their ancestral ways. These same individuals have grown to learn some of their ancestors’ language, songs, and ceremonies. They have remained in the community when a young indigenous person joins SIP for their first ceremony - these same men and women who are now Elders in our community - welcome the newcomer and help them to reconnect with their ancestors and remember the lost knowledge of their people. The effects of this healing on an individual can be incredibly profound and may transform their entire life. The support and healing provided by these traditional ceremonies can help people release the ancestral trauma and pain they may carry from the suffering of their ancestors and learn to walk a life of peacemaking imbued with the wisdom of their Indigenous ancestors.