Category Archives: Sundance ceremony

Giving back

Greetings Sundancers, drummers, and supporters.
In just a little while, our dance will commence for the fourth and final time of this nourishing, flourishing Hokitika cycle.

Over these years, Earth and Sky, Sun and Moon, have generously provided—trees and wood for fire, water for drinking, cleansing, and showers.

If you feel, in heart and mind, called to give back in the form of shrubs, fruit and nut plants, natives, or saplings, please know these offerings will be warmly welcomed and planted during your visit. They will stand as living tokens of gratitude for all that has been given and received, for the benefit of all natural and living things.

SUNDANCE 2026

Greetings Sundance family,

SunDance 2026 February 15th – 23rd

The last cycle, 4 / 4 of this round of dances seeded in 2022, sprouted in 2023, will reach full bloom on Sunday – 22.2.26

Dancer purification: February 15th-18th. Tree Day 18th . Dance 19th – 22nd February 2026

Communal tidy up: Monday 23rd February 2026.

All Welcome.

Vision Quest: dates, location & contacts – to follow.

Where: 232 Blue Spur road, Hokitika, West Coast , South Island,

note: Pet lovers: please make arrangements, as dance site is not suitable for pets.

Sundance in Aotearoa

In Aotearoa / New Zealand, the journey of the Sundance ceremony began with a visit from Patrick Hendrickson (aka Chief White Cloud or Patrick Aynewausch in the summer of 1999/2000..  Although people from Aotearoa had attended the Sundance held in Hornby Island in 1999 , this was the first opportunity for a wider group of people to meet Patrick Hendrickson and participate in Inipi purification lodges.

During this first visit, Patrick Hendrickson spent time traveling Aotearoa and speaking with Tangata Whenua and others about his journey and vision.  The first Sundance was run by Patrick Hendrickson in the summer of  2001/2002

View the clip below to learn more about the purpose & meaning that brought this ceremony to Aotearoa.. (image Patrick Aynewausch )

Patrick Aynewausch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQm2YcbnLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQm2YcbnLg