BISMARCK, ND – Wambli “Wawa” Cincala Red Bird, 28, of Bismarck, ND, passed away May 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones, at Sanford Hospital, Bismarck, ND.
Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m. MDT, Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the CRST Bingo Hall in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, with a procession from the 4-Mile at 10:00 a.m. A celebration of life will be from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the UTTC Healing Room, Building 69, Bismarck, ND.
Wambli Cincala Red Bird was born in Eagle Butte, SD, on June 16, 1997, to Ryan Red Bird and Jacqueline (Bad Warrior) Hart. Wambli Cincala aka Wawa; grew up and attended school in Eagle Butte, SD; Bismarck, ND; and graduated from Coronado High School in Scottsdale, AZ in 2015.
Wawa was employed in various jobs such as a lifeguard, maintenance, management, sales reps, security, waiter, bartender, deli work and cashier in Eagle Butte, SD, Bismarck, ND, and Scottsdale, AZ.
In June 2014, Wambli and other youths started fighting against corruption of the Keystone XL Pipeline. They organized walks and protests in Eagle Butte, SD to raise awareness of the KXL Pipeline corruption.
In September 2016, Wambli visited the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protest for the first time. He enjoyed his first visit at DAPL camp because “there is nothing but the good vibes from everyone, food, and no one judges anyone else, I love it there!” He decided to join the fight and resided fulltime at the camp from October 2016 – December 2016. Wambli was one of the founding members of the International Indigenous Youth Council (IIYC). On July 1, 2017, Wambli received a “Movement Makers Award” in Baltimore, MD.
Numerous individuals who interacted with Wambil observed that he was exceptionally focused and attentive. His ability to give people his undivided attention created the impression that each person was his closest friend. Wawa was goofy, he liked to prank and tease people every chance he had; even if it was during an inappropriate time frame.
Wambli enjoyed hanging out with his friends, helping with nieces and nephews as he loved being an uncle. Wambli also loved cooking and baking. He would always make you feel special by singing you a Happy Birthday song or taking the time to make you feel special.
Wambli will be greatly missed by his surviving father, Ryan Red Bird; mother, Jacqueline (Donovan) Hart; sisters, TaAmpetu Waste Win (Brion) Red Bird and O’Lowan Waste Win Red Bird; brother, P’Tanyetuhoksila Red Bird; stepbrothers, Eric (Esmeralda) Hart and Trevor (Saeko) Mallard; nephew, Gabriel Ares; niece, Alouisa Tyr; grandmother, Doris Red Bird; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Wambli is preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Thomas Red Bird; great grandparents: Charles and Mary (Elk Eagle) Red Bird, Oscar Bad Warrior, Maethel Butcher, Isaak High Elk and Ed Long Fox; maternal grandfather, Gary Bad Warrior Sr.; maternal grandmother, Pauline A. Eagle Chasing; aunts, Rosemary Bear Eagle and Jovanna Bad Warrior; uncles, Milton, Mike, and Myron Great, Chad Bad Warrior; and hunka brother, Jordan Mesteth; and many other relatives.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Wawa’s arrangements

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