West River Eagle

I’ll be Home for Christmas…



‘Twas the night before Christmas on Cheyenne River,

The kids were asleep as Leksi Santa entered

In his sleigh he flew, pulled by sunka wakan,

His first stop was in Blackfoot, with gifts for até and ina

To Promise he went, before he said,

“Onto Swiftbird and Ridgeview!”

There, he visited with tiwahes he knew,

In Whitehorse and On The Tree, 

he enjoyed homemade wojapi,

He made sure to stop in Green Grass to pray,

Dropping gifts off at each home along the way,

He headed north to Timber Lake then on to Isabel,

Where he heard families singing Jingle Bells

The bright lights of Eagle Butte lured him there,

One by one, he placed presents under trees with care,

Westward he traveled to Lantry and Bear Creek,

his footsteps were quiet, without even a squeak,

In Thunder Butte, he delivered a specially-made flute

Then southward he went to Iron Lightning and Dupree,

Where he stuffed stockings and admired each Christmas tree,

He went to Red Scaffold

where winter count stories were being told

In Frazier, Leksi visited with friends, 

before touring the West End

He wanted to stay for a whole week 

in beautiful Cherry Creek

But the wakanyeja awaited him in Takini,

And when he arrived, they were filled with joy and glee

Away he went to Bridger to deliver more gifts,

His sunka wakan flew hard and flew swift

Back eastward they went to Armstrong,

Where they enjoyed wacipi and Christmas songs,

Up to Parade they went, then onto LaPlant they flew,

What an incredible journey! Leksi Santa knew

that Cheyenne River was a special place to be,

With all the wonderful people, food and sights to see,

His heart was happy and light, when he shouted,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a washte night!”

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