Caŋṗa Sápa Wi (Chokecherry Ripening Moon) has begun and runs through Satuday, August 15th for the Dakota people. Chokecherries (caŋṗa) are culturally important to the Dakota people for both nutritional values and ceremonial reasons. When they ripen, they are nearly black (sápa) in color.
In the past, it was important to prepare food for winter that was high in vitamins and nutrients. Wasna, which can be a combination of dried meat and chokecherries, is made and dried for winter use. Today, chokecherries are used for ceremonial purposes, and also wóżapi (pudding) and wasna.
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