The
Lakota Sioux are well known and represent all of America’s Native people. The
Sioux people were the first to inhabit North America. There are mini groups
that make up the Lakota Sioux nation as a whole, which are the Lakota, Nakota
and Dakota. They originate in South Dakota and have a rich diverse culture
centered on the tons of buffalo herds during that time. The Sioux established
and sustained tribal governments all across North and South Dakota, Minnesota,
Nebraska, Alberta Canada and Montana. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 signed in
Wyoming between the United States and the Lakota Nation promised the Lakota
people to acquire the Black Hills and the opportunity to hunt, which ended the
Red Cloud’s War.
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| The Circle |
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| Whope |
In
the beginning, the gods resided in the heavenly domain and the humans lived in
the subterranean world of culture. The chief was Takushkanskan, the sun who is
married to the Moon. They have one daughter, Wohpe (“falling star”); Old Man
and Old Woman whose daughter Ite (“face”) is married to Wind. Both of them have
four sons, the Four Winds. The most important spirit of all is the Inktomi
(“spider”), the devious trickster. He conspires with the Old Man and the Old
Woman to increase their daughter’s status by arranging a relationship between
the Sun and Ite. When the Sun’s wife reveals their relationship, it leads to
various punishments by Takuskanskan. Old Man, Old Woman and Ite travel down to
earth but Ite and the Wind are separated who along the Four Winds and the fifth
wind (supposedly the child from the affair) creates space. The daughter of the
Sun and the Moon, Wohpe meets up with the South Wind (beauty of the Lakota
maleness) and they adopt the fifth wind named Wamniomni (“Whirlwind”).
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| Sacred Calf Pipe and White Buffalo Woman |
The concept of “Wakan”
is the main religious symbol of the Sioux. It is the core belief. Some of the
other values believed by the Lakota Sioux is the circle of symbolism, Sacred
Calf Pipe and sacred numbers. The circle stood for life that was kept in
Wakan’s hands. The human body,
body of the tree, the seasons, time and a bird’s nest represent circles. By
sitting in circles for ceremonial events (“Sacred hoop”) was safe and
symbolizes wholeness and to remember Wakan. The Sacred Calk Pipe given to the
people by the White Buffalo Calf Woman is in charge of all creation. Black Elk
symbolizes the Earth, while the buffalo etched in stone represents all the
four-legged animals. Sacred Numbers four and seven provide the structure of the
Universe; for Example, four divisions of time (day, night, the moon and the
year), human life (childhood, adulthood and old age) and all growing things
(the roots, stem, leaves and fruit).
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| Sun Dance |
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| War Paint |
The Sun dance is the most popular
ritual by the Native American Tribes of the Great Plains. The dance included
fasting, singing, dancing, drumming, the experience of visions and
self-torture. Other religious dances include the Ghost Dance, Vision Quest, War
Paint and the Medicine Bags. The ceremony involved warriors being pierced
through the chest or the back with a bone. The dancers would either be tethered
to the tree that was chosen by the bravest warrior. This dance lasted almost
two weeks starting in the early morning and ending at sunset. Because this
dance is so prominent in the Lakota Sioux tribe, it shows that life does not
end but is continuous. Another ritual that is told is known as the Legend of
the White Buffalo. It is always told at
spiritual events. It tells the story about how the people lost their ability to
talk and communicate with the Creator. The White Buffalo Calf Woman was sent by
the Creator to teach the people how to pray with the sacred animism symbol in
the Lakota Sioux. When the sacred teachings were finished she told the people
that she would restore peace and spirituality to their
troubled land.
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| The Legend of the White Buffalo |
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| War Dance |
Animism was used a lot in the Lakota Sious culture.
Animism is based on the fact that spirits not live in humans, but in animals,
plans, trees, rocks etc. The belief and culture also extends to geographic
features. Spiritually, Native Americans worshiped animals, plants, the sun, wind
and rain. Particularly in parties,
prayers and ceremonies they would try to gain favor of the gods. Toteism,
taboos which were used during ceremonies, Fetishism and Shamans did take place
in the Lakota Sioux culture.
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| Animism |
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| Toteism |
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