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The Lakota were one of the original native Americans tribes,
often known as Red Indians, who lived and hunted all
over the Rocky Mountain ranges before the arrival of
European travellers. The Lakota were originally part of the
seven council fires made up of 7 bands: 4 Dakota, 2 Nakota
and one Teton band, also known as the Lakota.
Many Tribal Lands
In the 17th Century they lived in Wisconsin, and in
the forests in southern Minnesota where they had established
reservations of many tribal generations. The name “Sioux”
of which the native tribes are commonly known originates from
the tribal name “Nadowe-is-iw”, the area of treacherous
snakes near their settlements.
In 1680 the Lakota (who called themsleves “tiyospaye”
meaning 'extended family') were identified as living further
west, on the upper Mississippi in central Minnesota.
Tribal wars over the fur trade forced the Lakota out
west, from the forests and lakes of Minnesota to the Great
Plains west of the Mississippi and later to South Dakota,
near the Missouri River.
Warfare
During the gold rush in the 1840’s, the white traders
and traveller brought alien diseases to the Indians as well
as accelerated buffalo hunting for the fur trade. This caused
hostility and battles with the emigrants and traders. In 1851,
a series of treaties called the Fort Laramie Treaty
were made between the US and the many tribes. The treaty was
created to guarantee peace between the white Americans and
the numerous tribes in the Rocky Mountains. However, the white
traders were hungry for the rich blood of the buffalo fur
trade and every treaty and every agreement was ever made
between the United States government and the Lakota people
were violated and broken before the ink was even dry. This
culminated in numerous battle, the most legendary and victorious
for the tribes being the Battle of Little Bighorn.
The Lakota are a fiercely strong and powerful tribe whose
leaders and warrior have achieved the status of legends the
world over, like Red Claw, American Horse, Young Man Afraid
of His Horses, Red Horn Buffalo, and Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse
is the Lakota’s hero, and held in high esteem and legend
by the tribe. The white man was his sworn enemy and he never
gave up the fight for his people’s land or lower his
tribe status by making contact or speaking with a white man,
and speaking his mother tribe’s tongue. He lived and
died a true Lakota.
They are not the kind of people to get on the wrong side of,
but fight their battles with strength and honour. They have
a special relationship with their horses, which they
see as their brothers, and the horse and his master will care
and protect each other in times of battle. In the early days
when the cavalry came to the area the Indians would come riding
in vast numbers with just sticks or even with their bare hands
and they would just hit these cavalry men, but never kill
them and then ride away. The Lakota believe that even though
someone might be your adversary you didn't necessarily want
to kill him, because you couldn’t “count koo”
on him to bring honour on yourself. Counting koo is a way
of showing bravery without violence. If a Lakota walked up
to you and touched your nose and walked away, all of your
comrades will look at you with shame because you allowed the
enemy to walk right up to you, touch you and walk right away
still alive.
Folklore
The theories of Koo are also felt in their folklore, which
intentionally ridiculous the Lakota enemies. The story of
how the white man got his name is an intrical part of the
Lakota’s folklore. They believe that during the cold
and snowy winter, the Lakota were well camoflaged in their
dwellings. One day, they heard noises outside and saw a big
hairy white face outside, all dressed up, and wondering through
the lodges. The Lakota used to keep bear fat high up in the
trees where dogs and wolves could not reach it. The white
man began to climb the tree and eat the bear fat, then strolled
right through the camp. Thus the Lakota word for white man
is Washetrom - or the man who came into camp and stole
the fat.
Tee Pee Reservations
Lakota tribes dwellings are known as teepee’s
and are constructed with twelve poles. The Lakota were early
advocates of Feng Shui in the way they constructed their dwellings.
The tenth teepee pole is the one that comes up and that has
to point to the Morning Star and this is the direction and
the door is always facing to the east, the space which represents
new life, created each and every day.
Modern Day Lakota
Today, Lakota survival is still under threat, but not as you
may belief through neither warfare, destruction of land or
starvation. The popularisaton of Lakota culture, by academics,
cultural analyists and the general public is causing a cultural
erosion, and a romanticism of the traditions of the tribes
causing inaccurate stereotypes of the few remaining direct
descendents of the tribes.
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