Frank Hapa, Sr., age 63, passed away on Monday, August 8, 2016 in Fort Kipp, MT.
Frank was born on February 12, 1953 to Herman and Elizabeth Hapa in Sioux Valley, Manitoba. But made his Home on the Fort Peck Reservation.
In 1971 Frank married Margaret Red Boy and later divorced but still remained long time friends. To this union were born Faron, Michael Sr., Frank, Jr., and Arlin Hapa, Irvin and Evadna. Frank later met and married Esther Buck Elk, and from this union came his step-children; Carlos, Evron, Andrea, Nanette, and Tamara.
Frank worked various jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a well known Wacipi announcer throughout Indian Country.
Frank is survived by his wife Esther; children Faron (Debi), Frank Jr., Arlin, Evadna and Irvin Olson all of Poplar.; adopted children Carlos, Evron (Dee Dee), Nanette, Tamara, Ghandi, and Merilee all of Ft. Kipp. Brother Raymond (Teresa) of Sioux Valley, Manitoba; sisters Gwen of Regina, Saskatchewan, Winona (John), Merle (Art Greybull) of Chelsea, MT and Flora (Ron) Kaye of Sakimay, Saskatchewan; adopted brother Arnold EagleBoy, Adrien Ireland, Ronald Fast Horse; adopted sisters Beverly Bird and Vivian Yuzzicappi, Peggy Ireland, Yvette Todd, Julia, and Patti (Sly) Youngman. Frank had many adopted Brothers and Sisters throughout indian country; grandchildren Daijon, Michael, Jr., Evonda (Evie), Raymond, Elicia, Jacora, Habbukkuk, Denissa, Jay, Austin, Murika, Devon, Reese, Tori, Heather, Irvin Jr., Erica, Margaret, Jenna ,& Kensey (both of whom held a special place in his heart), and Lana; Great-Great Grandchild Mae’lee Rose Thunderchild. Other special people that Frank leaves behind are Margaret Hapa, Kristofer and Amanda Boyd, Corra Whiteman, Bud and FeFe Shaw, Josie Lawrence, Roger Yankton, Larry Thiele and Katie Thunderchild. Valerie, Michelle, Jodi, Waynette, JR Boyd, Maureen Gray Hawk, JR and Tiny Draszt and Katherine Howard.
Preceding Frank in death is his son Michael Hapa, Sr.; Brothers Herman, Carl, and Herbie; Sister Vivian Jones and Andrea Davis.
Frank Hapa, “Ahin zaza”, Walks in the Light, is originally from Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Canada however he made his home in Fort Kipp, Montana. He is a well known celebration announcer across Indian Country. Aside from announcing he also sings at wakes, funerals, memorials, and in his younger days was a grassdancer and a singer on a drum group named Hapa’s out of Sioux Valley, Manitoba. His wife is Esther Hapa and has made Fort Peck reservation his home. “I have been here on the reservation for more than 40 years and I have a lot of relatives her that came from Sioux Valley. But this is my home. Fort Kipp is my home. I always represent the Fort Peck Reservation wherever I go. I’m proud of where I have come from and the way I live my life.”
In 1986 Frank was at Iron Ring Celebration here in Poplar where the late Ben Gray Hawk who was announcing brought him up to the announcer stand and gave him a mic. There was no other announcer for that weekend so he was in the right place at the right time and that is where it all began. He really enjoyed himself and started to talk more and more on the mic in between breaks. Ben Gray Hawk was a mentor to him, helping him at all of the celebrations across the reservations. He also learned a lot from one of his cousins from Sioux Valley whose name was Mike Hopatin; he has since passed one. “At one time I used to be a Grassdancer and I used to sing with my uncles and my Dad and they had the drum group called Hapas. I was the youngest one so I know a lot of songs.”
Frank is the son of the late Elizabeth and Herman Hapa. Growing up they really held on to their traditional ways and helped us to learn and uphold our Dakota values. I was named Ahin zaza by my Grandmother. This means Walks in the Light. She said that one day I’ll be there to help the people. And that I would be used in a good way. “I’m glad to help and be there for the people I’ll do this till the day I can’t walk or talk.”
“I met my wife as casual friends. She is big support. Everything I do she’s right there to be there for me. Every memorial, wake, funeral and celebration she’s always there to help me. We’re not young anymore and we encourage each other in everything that we do. She was brought up differently; she was brought up more into Christianity. She didn’t understand the Culture of the people. She learned a lot when we lived in Sioux Valley and she seen how the people stay together and uphold our culture and traditions. And over time she’s always there for me. I’m up in age now and if I don’t feel good then she’ll come and hold me and pray for me. And it helps me a lot. My wife and I try to do a lot for other people, I was taught to never say no. If someone asks for help we always try to do what we can. I really enjoy being there for the people.
“I’m getting up there in age but the traditional life is what I love. The people who are on the red road really know who they are and where they come from. The drum beat is what makes us who we are. It’s the heartbeat of Mother Earth. There’s a lot that have questions and I know that the audience is listening so I try to teach what I know. Our little ones need a lot of teaching. Every one of us was given a calling in life. The dancer dances for us just like the singers sing. They sing and dance for us. The word “powwow”, I don’t know when we started using that term. The word we used was celebrations because we celebrate life. The word powwow is the term that the white people used to use to explain us Indians and our “doings”. We need to bring the word Celebration back to the people and to start using it more on our posters. My hope is that one day I’ll never see the word POWWOW on a Wacipi poster. Reminds me of General George Armstrong Custer…It’s a Celebration, not a ‘Powwow’!”
“I always watch what I say when I’m announcing and sometimes the Elders will come and talk to me and I always honor them. I always honor the veterans. I have uncles who served, so I always try to honor them. I try to stay humble. The red road is a hard road to walk on. To be an announcer is to speak for the people. My cousin Mike used to tell me “They hired you to be an announcer and they want you to share. The microphone is not there for nothing. Talk and tell stories or talk about yourself so we know who you are.” “It’s hard to be an announcer; once you’re up there behind the mic it’s different. It’s good. You always have to share and you always have to pray. It doesn’t come from your brain it comes from your heart. When I’m announcing and there are differences in the committees and chaos is going on. It reflects back on the people and the elders see it. As announcers we have to try to smooth it all out. We have to work together.”
“My first year I made a lot of mistakes, as years go by I stuck with it. I always try to encourage the people to keep on going. We as announcers are called to be there and speak for the people and to speak for the committees. We get to joke and make the people happy. It’s good to see the Elders laughing. When you’re announcing and watching the people, some are nodding their heads to the beat and people are happy. It’s the best seat at the celebration. I like to be at the small celebrations. I like all of our committees. Our committees work hard. Jim Clairmont complimented our people. We don’t use casino funds. We do it the old way. We get out into the communities and get the people involved and raise our money the old way for the people. If you ever want to come up and visit me, you are welcome. Come and sit with me and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“In my heart I go through a lot, whether it is life or my health. It’s the people that hold us together. For me to announce it’s what I enjoy. I enjoy being the voice for the people, whoever needs me. I’ll always be here to announce until I can’t do it anymore. We have some of the best top dancers here on our reservation. I always try to enjoy the celebrations. My favorite is when there are new little ones coming into the circle. The tiny tots love to hear encouragement, I tell then they are all Champion dancers and they really spin hard then. These younger generations are our future. We need to keep them on the right path, show them how to walk the red road.”
Looking back on past announcers I remember Matt and Jim Black Dog Family. Jim Black Dog would do all his announcing in Dakota all decked out in his white hat. Elders, remember long time ago the announcer used to be out in the middle. There was no sound system and they would keep the people informed. Long time ago there was never a Grand Entry. It mostly came from rodeo and we never had giveaways, if there were gifts to be given they just went out and gave them to them. But it’s good the way they do it now. It’s good to recognize all the dancers and all the categories. It’s good to honor our people. Not to be proud but to honor.
Frank officiates a lot of wakes, funerals, and memorials here on the reservation, he also sings and plays guitar. “in 1974 we started to sing at wakes. Try to comfort the family and be there for the people we always mourn with them. We may not know them personally but to see the families cry heartbroken, I try to encourage them and try to sing songs. But it’s what I’ve been called to do. Speak for the people, to be there for the people. Memorials are an important time to remember that loved one. We might have a feed or a giveaway a year later and that’s good. In Canada we do it 4 years then we let them go.
“I want to thank all the people that I have come across in my lifetime. All the Celebration Organizations. Each one of them for respecting me enough to ask if I’m going to talk for them, I’m always honored to help them. I’m proud of Turns Around and Wahcinca Dakota Oyate Wacipi, they are mostly all women and they are always good celebrations. Thank you to all the committees across the reservation. All of the Fort Peck rez people and I know some are gone but thank you for honoring me. All the drum groups on the reservation and the visiting drums. These are all my boys, all my nephews. I’m really thankful to all of those who have honored me in my life. Thank you to all the committees and all of the people. I’m looking forward to the next celebration “You know, I’ll be there!”