Winhopa
About
Hello! My name is Winhopa. I was born into a large Lakota family from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I'm an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and am descended from prominent and respected ancestors known to history. Here I'm visiting the Fetterman Battlefield near Fort Phil Kearny in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. My ancestors, namely my great great grandfather, Young Man Afraid of His Horses, fought in the Fetterman Battle and was victorious in what became known as Red Cloud's War.
My other ancestors include Chief Pute' and the Goes In Center family on my mother's side. My great grandfather, Chief Pute (Lip), established Lip's Camp around 1880 which later became the town of Wanblee on the reservation. My grandmother, Kate Goes In Center (Chief Pute's daughter), lived a long life and spoke only the Lakota language. Her husband, John Goes In Center, served as a council member of the first tribal council after congressional enactment of the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) in 1934.
Creating authentic American Indian crafts has been a life long hobby for me. It grounds me and helps me tap into my Lakota culture. Originally I sold these items locally and at various Pow Wow's. But thanks to this website I am able to offer a limited run of these products to the general public.