Lakota Sioux
Lakota
one branch of Sioux along with Dakota/Nakota
In
turn, Lakota has 7 bands including Oglala, Hunkpapa, etc.
Relatively
recent culture with arrival of Euro-Americans, fur trade, conflict w/ other
tribes (1600-1700’s)
1)From Minnesota/Great Lakes to Plains -- Nomadic
2)Buffalo Culture & Tipis
3)Introduction of Horse
Lakota Religious World:
Wakantanka: Great Spirit/Creator/sacredness in all things
+wakan = holy/sacred
Grandfather/Grandmother: Kinship with other beings
White
Buffalo Calf Woman, the Sacred Pipe, and Seven Sacred Rites:
Sacred Pipe: Arvol
Lookinghorse, 19th Generation Keeper
1)Sweat Lodge
Ceremony: the Ainipi@
+Purification, rebirth, suffering, prayer, communion,
song/drumming
+Symbolism: 4
directions, womb
2)Vision Quest: Rite of Passage (Hanblechiya = crying
for a vision)
3)Sun Dance: 4-8 day ceremony at summer solstice
+Spiritual & communal Renewal, sacrifice, prayer
+Buffalo skull; Eagle-bone whistle
+Center sacred pole; Attached by skewers in flesh
+Ecstasy of sacrifice: Suffering to connect with
sacred; Visions
4)Ghost/Spirit Keeping: Process of mourning
+Spirit bundle; ritual dwelling; ritual release after
one year
5)Making of Relatives
6)Girls= Puberty Ritual: Buffalo Ceremony
+Seclusion/initiation; Relationship with white buffalo
woman
7)Sacred Ball Throwing
