Funeral services for 86-year old Eli Tail Sr are Sat, Oct 28, 2023 at 11:00 at the Pahin Sinte Owayawa in Porcupine, SD, with Pastors Al Sutton and Matt Hadden officiating and traditional Lakota services by Mike Little Boy Sr.
Burial is at St Alban’s Episcopal Cemetery in Porcupine
A two-night wake service startsThurs at 3:00 at the Pahin Sinte Owayawa in Porcupine
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Eli Jeremiah Tail Sr “Ana Wizipi” was born on April 17, 1937 in Porcupine, SD to Jackson Tail and Helen (Young Bear) Tail. He made his journey to the spirit world on October 16, 2023 at Pine Ridge SD.
Eli had a long and full life. He married his wife Carolyn (Pontius) Tail in February 1998, and they began caring for 11 of their grandchildren in 2000.
At age 17, he enlisted in the US Army Triple A Gun Battalion and served in Korean from 1954 through 1956.
When he returned, Eli took up bareback riding and became a professional athlete competing for nearly 20 years and winning first or second place in every rodeo he entered.
As a small child, he traveled around to rodeos with his parents and performed with them in halftime shows. He became an accomplished traditional dancer, eventually dancing in tours to powwows around the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Eli attended and gave speeches at the UN Working Group on the Declaration of Indigenous Peoples in 1998 and 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland.
He appealed to the Pope to revoke the Papal Bulls which were the basis of the Christian discovery doctrine, and was invited to visit the Vatican in 1998. He sat near the Pope with the Cardinals and Arch Bishop at an outdoor service in St. Petersburg Square.
Eli played piano and guitar, and was a singer in a country band as well as a singer and dancer on the powwow circuit.
He produced two documentary DVDs – the Warriors’ Ride and Through Lakota Eyes – and played the role of Sitting Bull in the National Film Board of Canada film Medicine Line.
Eli was one of three Naca selected by Porcupine District in 1999 and served until his death. He was a member of AIM and worked on treaty issues for many years.
Eli was preceded in death by his parents; all 12 of his siblings; his sons Anthony Tail, Eli Tail Jr, and John Tail; daughter Janice Tail; and grandchildren Eli Tail III, Cody Tail, Holly Tail, Molly Tail, Alan Tail, and Cree Tail.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn (Pontius) Tail; daughters Elizabeth Tail and Donna Tail; son Waylon Stankiewizs; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Marvin Goings, Donnie Mesteth, Russell Sitting Holy, Duane Brings Plenty, Seivert Young Bear Jr, Nunpa White Plume, Zuya White Plume, David Swallow Jr, Ethan Tail, Lucas Tail, Melvin Eagle Feather Rossman, and Akicita Thunder Hawk.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Cortez, Christer Lundin, Meg King, Will Isham & Staff of First National Bank, Hot Springs VA Hospital & Staff, Indian Health Service Hospital Staff, Evergreen Lutheran Church, Carol Jorgensen & Family, David Swallow & Family, Mel & Pearl Rossman & Family, Karen Red Elk & Family, Gloria No Neck & Family, Soni DuBray & Family, Bonita Andrews & Family, Urna Shepherd & Family, Donnie Mesteth & Family, Leola One Feather & Family, Blossom Johnson & Family, Percy White Plume III, Tedine Pourier & Family, James Sitting Holy Sr & Family, Liz Tail & Family, Donna Tail & Family, Alvin Iron Cloud & Family, Betty Fast Wolf & Family, Jennifer (Tail) Long, Al Sutton, Matt Hadden, Earl Tail Jr & Family, Angel Tail, Earlene Tail, Bryan Brewer, Melvin Young Bear & Family, Cedric Young Bear & Family, Sonny Richards, Jumping Eagle Family, Looks Twice Family, Iron Boy Family, Little Boy Family, Phelps Family, All Veterans, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD