Beyond the Stage: How Germany is Championing Lakota Sovereignty

A loud bang rings through the grandstands, and a thousand watching heads turn to the Saloon. A locomotive has crashed into the back of the building, setting off fireballs. The battle has boiled over between the Mescalero Apache, their allies, and the Pacific Railroad Company’s henchmen. As the fighting concludes, the heroes prevail. Winnetou, the Apache leader, and Old Shatterhand, his newfound German ally, have just halted the bloody expansion of the railway straight through Mescalero lands. The show ends, and dozens of equestrian actors take turns storming across the beautiful, practical set, performing all sorts of acrobatic stunts to the crowd’s delight.

It’s in Elspe, Germany, that this festival consistently draws thousands of spectators each weekend of the summer. The play is based on the famous writer Karl May’s Winnetou. May (1842–1912) was most famous for his stories of the Wild West. What set him apart in the 1800s was his nuanced perspective on Native Americans. As opposed to his counterparts of that period, he showed them in a noble light, highlighting moral and philosophical disagreements within both the European settlements and the featured tribes. He emphasized that there was good and bad in everyone, ensuring that upright, truthful, and kind individuals were protected by Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, regardless of their skin color.

As the applause dies down, the crowd files towards the exit to leave the grandstands. However, they aren’t truly leaving the set; as they step back into the old town, the immersion continues. This is no ordinary town. The festival has erected buildings akin to what you’d see in classic Western movies, but with modern restaurants hidden in the saloons, merchandise sales in the general stores and apothecaries, and a variety of activities throughout the park.

It’s next to the saloon that a crowd forms, where One Spirit Deutschland (OSD) holds their booth. This is the third year running that the Elspe Festival has invited OSD to raise funds and awareness for Native Americans, and more specifically the Lakota of Pine Ridge.

At this booth, you can find a plethora of Native American jewelry, art, and merchandise bearing the designs of artists such as Merle Locke and Joe Pulliam. While the profits are sent to One Spirit’s programs on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the booth and its volunteers strive for a deeper impact.

Like in the US, Native Americans have long featured prominently in European pop culture through often crude “Cowboys and Indians” stories. While the German public knows that May's plays—like this year's Winnetou I—are fiction, the stories have ignited a genuine, deep-seated interest in Native American culture. And while the German education system does teach a bit about Native American history, it struggles to convey the full depth of the culture and the modern challenges these communities face today. It’s for this reason that OSD’s volunteers work to educate visitors on true Indigenous arts, history, and the present state of affairs.

This authentic German interest is exactly what sparked the creation of OSD. Years ago, local supporters seeking to truly help Native Americans—working with them as partners rather than ruling over them—contacted One Spirit Director Jeri Baker. Seeing their passion, Jeri suggested they bring the organization to Germany. Founded in 2014 with just ten people, OSD has consistently grown, now proudly boasting over 25 members who are thrilled to be part of a larger global mission.

Today, at their stall in Elspe, the gap between fiction and reality is bridged. The character of Winnetou might be Apache, but the Lakota are just as dear to the German heart. After watching the play or strolling the grounds during intermission, moved visitors crowd around the OSD stall. They ask earnest questions about the Pine Ridge Reservation, take flyers to learn more, purchase ledger art t-shirts and jewelry, and offer generous donations, turning a love for a childhood story into real-world solidarity.

Their impact on Pine Ridge has been massive. For over a decade, OSD has raised substantial funds for critical infrastructure like the Lakota Employment Group (LEG), Charging Buffalo House and the Okini Market, while supporting nearly every one of our ongoing programs. Their efforts consistently generate vital revenue for Lakota artists and spread the word about the realities of the reservation to thousands of Germans each year.

We’d like to thank the Elspe Festival for welcoming us, and to give a heartfelt thank you to our overseas relatives for their unwavering support of the Lakota.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a global effort to support a people. We are not alone in this.

Stand with us