Lakota Thought and Philosophy: A Lakota Thought and Philosophy: A Universal ViewUniversal View

By Victor Douville

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Lakota Thought and Philosophy: a Universal ViewBy

Victor Douville

Copyright © 2007 by Victor Douville Published by Sinte Gleska University

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Lakota Thought and PhilsophyLakota Thought and PhilsophyThe Lakota world view is complex and not completely under- stood because it embraces closeness to nature, the spiritual realm and kinship to all life forms; and because the people truly believe in this, they walk a fine line between what is above and what is below.

The Lakota children, from the time they deliver the first kick in the womb, are reared and taught morals and behavior through symbols and rituals that best convey the philosophy of the nation. These symbols and rituals show how the people are close to nature, the spiritual realm and kinship to all life forms. This prepares the children and the people to begin living in harmony with what is above and what is below.

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ContentsContents• The Circle, Concept & Applications-Slide 5-17• The Lakota Tipi-Slides 18-21• Wanagi Tacanku-Slides 22-23• Topa, the Cardinal Number-Slides 24-34• The Number Seven Concepts-Slides 35-40• Cinska Sinte Yukan (the Big Dipper)-Slides 41-44• Concept of Wakan Tanka & Manifestations-Slides 45-50• Mitakuye Oyasin-Slides 51& 52 • The Pipe, Concept of the Cannunpa-Slides 53-55• The Protocol of the Ceremonies & -Slides 56-57• The Medicine Man - Slides 58 & 59• Wolakota, & Concept of Wolakota-Slides 60-62• Reflection of Lakota Thought and Philosophy-Slide 63• Slide Credits-Slide 65

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The CircleThe Circle

• The circle has no beginning or ending• It represents immortality and infinity• It represents security because everyone or

anything in a circle is protected • The system of counting is in cycles or in

circles• The system of pictograph writing involves

the use of spirals and circles• Lakota logic is circular as opposed to linear

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Concept of the CircleConcept of the Circle

• The Universe is round• Everything comes in

cycles or stages• All heavenly bodies

are basically circular• The earth is round• All life forms have

round bodies and limbs

• Camps are circular

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SitomniSitomni KinKin (the World) (the World)

• It means the world is round• The world is called Unci

Maka (grandmother earth)• Also called Keya Wita (Turtle

Island) because the turtle helped create the continents by bringing up soil from the bottom of the ocean

• A sand turtle has 13 block markings on its shell-they match the major 12 tectonic plates plus minor ones that make up the earth’s crust

Sitomni is envisioned as containing a turtle floating on the ocean World Globe courtesy of

Jim Sanovia

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Application of a Circle to a CampApplication of a Circle to a Camp

• A Sicangu camp circle• The Sicangu entered

the reservation with 18-21 bands that formed camp circles

• Membership to a tribe required a place in the circle

• The circle protected its members

SICANGU CAMP CIRCLE

(1870’S-Early 1900’s) Mniskuya K ic ’un K iyuksa/Tiglabu Wablenica Waceunpa

Hiha K anhanhan Win

Wagluhe K ak’ega

Isanti

CATK U CAMP ENTRANCE Sicanguhca TIOK IHE

Hinhansun- Wagmiza wapa/Sunkaha/ Y uha

Nap’in FLOW OF TRAFFIC Okaga Wicasa Walega Un

Wohan/Wahna Oohenunpa

Oglala Ic icaga

Iyeska Cinca Wajaje T iocesli *The Sicangu never camped together as a whole, until the reservation times.

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Application of the Circle to the Application of the Circle to the TipiTipi (Interior)(Interior)

Hepi (3th born)

Tripods Tawicu (Wife)

Tokape Catan (4th born) (1st Born Son)

Altar Water Water Bag Catku (Ate) Tiopa

(Head (door) of Fire

House 1 Wood Path

Tipi Poles Left to Right Hake (5th born) Fireplace Hepan (2nd born) Hakakta (last born)

1

2 4

5

6

3 7

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Application of Circle to the Application of Circle to the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

onnnnnnjjjjj h

3

1

2

4

5

6

7

hearth

Bdewakantonwan

Wahpekute

Wahpetonwan

Sisitonwan

Titonwan

Ihanktonwanna

Ihanktonwan T iotipi/Tiiokihe

Camp Entrance

Clockwise Flow Of Traffic

• Seven Council Fires• Seven entities form

smaller circles within• Camp shows unity and

harmony• Oceti Sakowin positions

are patterned after the household

Catku

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Application of a Circle to the Red Application of a Circle to the Red Race TrackRace Track

• He Sapa (Black Hills) sits on a red rim called the Race Track

• Creation of this red race track is based on a story about a great race bet-ween the “two leggeds and the four leggeds”

• As they raced, the ground shook and caused the up-heaval of the center and the rim was dyed by the red color of blood made by the feet, hooves and paws of the racers

Black Hills image courtesy of Jim Sanovia

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Application of the Concept of the Application of the Concept of the Circle to the Celestial Race TrackCircle to the Celestial Race Track

• Red Race Track Constellation

• Made up of Auriga B, Capella, Pleides, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux and Castor

• Represents the Red Rim that surrounds the Black HIlls

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Application of a Circle: Cosmic Application of a Circle: Cosmic Birth of a NationBirth of a Nation

• Red Circle represents a cave in the Black Hills called Wasun Niye (Wind Cave)

• The embryo emerging from the cave is Tokahe (first man)

• The Red Circle can also be a womb

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Application of Circle to a Genesis Application of Circle to a Genesis CaveCave

• Wasun Wiconiye is a genesis cave that re-presents a circle

• This cave is located in the southern Black Hills

• This is the cave from which Tokahe, the first man-leader, emerged from the cave to popu- late the earth

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Application of a Circle to a Application of a Circle to a Medicine HoopMedicine Hoop

• A Cangleska• The hoop represents the

hoop of the uni- verse that binds all life forms together in a symbiotic relationship

• The hoop can be used to create an hunka

• A hoop can be used as a device for playing games

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The Application of a Circle: the The Application of a Circle: the Winter CountWinter Count

• Waniyetu Owapi- winter count (tiospaye biography)

• The entries or counts spiral out counter clock- wise, from the center-all winter counts originally were done this way

• After 1877, winter counts were no longer designed in a spiral pattern

• The entries are significant events based on one event per year

• Winter counts were used to determine one’s age

The Lone Dog Winter Count

The entries spiral out forming a circle

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Application of Circle to Modern Application of Circle to Modern Concepts of a HoopConcepts of a Hoop

• It symbolizes how the Pte Oyate came out of Wind Cave-symbolizes spirituality

• The four colors stands for the four directions

• The four spokes stands for the four winds

• The number 4 stands for the universe-everything in the universe consists of 4 parts

• The circle connects every- thing together, everything is round and patterned from this

CANGLESK A (MEDICINE WHEEL)

K I IY ANK A OCANK U

CANGLESK A

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Origins of the Lakota Origins of the Lakota TipiTipiWhen the Lakota changed to a plains lifestyle, they also altered the type of home that accommodated their new lifestyle. The type of home they chose to make came from their children. Tradition says, some children were playing with Cottonwood leafs that were rolled up and tapered at one to represent a dwelling. These conical dwellings were formed into little camp circles. Elders noticed this and design- ed their new homes the same way. They were called tipi pestola (sharp pointed dwellings).

Cottonwood leaf has the same layout

design of a tipi

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Wankatuya Wakan, Kuta Wakan• Special above, special

below• Tripod of the tipi divides

the secular world from the spiritual world

• The division begins where the smoke leaves the tipi

• The tripod is an outline of a star and the tipi represents a star

Faces to the east

Faces to the south

Faces to the North

Circumference of tipi is divided into 3 equal parts distributing pressure points evenly

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The Circular-Exterior of The Circular-Exterior of TipiTipi• Called a tipi pestola

(pointed abode) as opposed to a wigwam (dome shaped)

• Shaped like a cone with an invisible vortex similar to an hour glass -inferring “what is special above is equally special below?”

• A star is depicted as a tipi in the sky

Mirrors the Tipi

Anderson Photo of High Hawk’s painted tipi, courtesy of Lakota

Studies photo collection

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The Lakota TipiThe Lakota Tipi• It’s vortex creates a bottleneck

to choke off escape of heat • In winter, heat is kept down

and cold air is circulated upward from the inner liners that provide an upward draft

• Fireplace is in front of the tipi center to maximize upward draft for the smoke

• The tipi is sloping in the front to create a drag for the smoke to escape

• back side of tipi is straight up to streamline the fierce NW wind

Plumbline-center of

tipi

Tipi can be set up and taken down in less than 15 minutes

Liners help create

upward draft for cold air to escape

Rocks anchor against heavy winds

.

.

Flaps

In the hot summers the bottoms are rolled up

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WanagiWanagi TacankuTacanku

The Lakota have always been fascinated by the night sky with all of the stars, particularly the Milky Way. They deduced from the concept of “what is special above- is special below” that the Milky way is sacrosanct to them. They concluded that this white band that circulated above them was really the gathering of kin spirits who departed the earth when their secular life expired. Thus they made this connection of earth to the white band of stars that circled above and called them Wanagi Tacanku (Spirit Trail).

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Concept of The Concept of The WanagiWanagi TacankuTacanku • Milky Way is circular and spiral

shaped and called Wanagi Tacanku (ghost trail)-its center contains an active Black Hole

• This is depicted as large encampments of camp fires of deceased kinfolk

• Each star is a tipi that is hour glass shaped

• Some stars are grouped in sets of fours or sevens

Side view of the Milky Way Galaxy

Courtesy Illustration from Wikimedia, the Free Encyclopedia

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TopaTopa, the Cardinal Number, the Cardinal Number

The number four has a special meaning to the Lakota people. Almost all creation comes in fours so human action and practice come in fours. In ceremonies, the pipe is extended three times and when extended the fourth, the recipi-ent has to decide to accept it or decline. The pipe is the instrument to seal a pact or a deal so if it is offered four times, then it gives the decid-er three opportunities to think about it and that is enough time to decide what to do when the fourth time comes around.

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Tobtob Kin Tobtob Kin ConceptConcept

• The set of fours• Everything in the universe

consists of four parts: the 4 stages of life, the 4 seasons, the 4 directions, the 4 parts of the body, the 4 parts of the plant, the 4 winds, 4 moon phases and more

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Four Social UnitsFour Social Units• Tiwahe (household) is the

Smallest Unit-The Ate is the head

• Tiospaye (extended family) is the next smallest-The Naca is the head

• Ospaye (band) is the second largest unit-Itancan is head

• Oyate (tribe-nation) is the largest unit- The Wicasa Yatapika is the nominal head of this unit

Oyate

Ospaye

Tiospaye

Tiwahe

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Four Directions and Four WindsFour Directions and Four Winds

• West is called Wiyoh-peyata its color is Blue

• Waziyata is called north, its color is Red

• Wiyohiyanpata is called east, its color is Yellow

• Itokagata is called south, its color is White

NORTH

EA

ST

SOUTH

WE

ST

Caution! Colors chosen by a medicine man or a practitioner of the culture may be different.

4 Winds

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Four Parts of the BodyFour Parts of the Body

• 4 parts of the human-head, neck, torso and hip

• 4 limbs• 4 fingers• 4 toes• 2 thumbs plus 2 big

toes equals 4

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Four Parts of a PlantFour Parts of a Plant

• Flower or leaf stalk/ branch

• Leaf or flower• Stem/trunk• Root• All natural things, like

the plants, that grow have power

• Man made things have no power

Root

StemBranch

Leaf

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Four Kinds of PlantsFour Kinds of Plants

• Flower plants• Fruit plants• Vegetable plants• Hard/Soft shell plants

Shell plants

Flower plants

Contemporary Plants

Courtesy of Plant illustrations from EnchantedLearning. com

Pascal Flower-Courtesy of Lakota Studies Plant slide

collections

Vegetable Plants

Fruit Plants

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Four Cardinal Phases of the Four Cardinal Phases of the HanwiHanwi

• New Moon

• ¼ Moon (Crescent Waxing)

• ½ Moon(1st Quarter)

• Full Moon

Wit’e (New Moon)

Wilecala (Crescent) Wiokiseya (1st Quarter)

Wimima (Full Moon)

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TobtobTobtob KinKin: : HanwiHanwi Phases Phases

• 1. Wit’e –New Moon• 2. Wilecala-Waxing Crescent • 3. Wiokiseya- 1st Quarter• 4. Wimimakanyela-Waxing Gibbous• 5. Wimima- Full Moon• 6. Wiyaspapi-Waning Gibbous• 7. Wimakatanyan-Last Quarter• 8. Wit’inkta Kanyela-Waning Crescent

Wilecala

Wimima

Wimimakanyela

Wiokiseya

Wit’e

Wiyaspapi

WimakatanyanWit’inktaKanyela

1st Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Full Moon

Waning Crescent

Last Quarter

New Moon

Waxing Crescent

Waning G.

Wi

*

*Upper half of the 4 sets followed by lower 4 sets

Unci Maka

**Moon’s orbit

**Moon’s orbit is elliptical and unbalanced

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Significance of Four Sets of SevensSignificance of Four Sets of Sevens

• 4 sets of sevens make up a month

• 28 days make up a month

• 13 new moons make up a year

• 13 x 28 = 364 + 1.2 = 365.2 (a true year)

• 364 divided by 4 = 91• 1.2 divided by 4 =.3• The power of 4 is

significant

1

234

56 7 8 91

0 11 1

213141516

1718

19

20

21

2223

24

25

26

27

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Maka Stuta Wi (ground Thaw Moon) (The New Year)

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The Four Stages of LifeThe Four Stages of Life

• Birth and Infancy range from new born to over ten years old

• Adolescence is over ten to eighteen

• Adulthood is over eighteen to the 60’s

• Old age occurs after the 60’s

Infancy

Adolescence

Adulthood

Old Age

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SakowinSakowin (Seven), the Cardinal (Seven), the Cardinal NumberNumber

According to the Lakota, the number seven is made up of two numbering systems, a cardin-al and a social number. Four is the cardinal number and three is a social number, four is ceremonial and three refers to the three dialects. Thus seven is a combination of spiritual and secular numbers. This ties seven to the above and below concept that unites the spiritual world with the secular world, this makes it especially powerful.

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Significance of Seven: Life CyclesSignificance of Seven: Life Cycles

• Life/Fetus- Hoksinagi• Birth/Newborn-Hoksicala• Infancy- Wakanyeja• *Adolescence- Wikoskal-

aka• *Adulthood- Winyan• *Old age- Winuhcala• Death- Wicont’a

Hoksicala

Wakanyeja

Koskalaka

Wicasa

Wicahcala

Wicont’a

Hoksinagi

*Female Cycles of LifeMale Cycles of Life

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Number Seven (Number Seven (SakowinSakowin))

• Five digits on left hand-thumb and four fingers plus thumb and index finger of right hand

• Combination of four and three

• Four is the cardinal number and three is the three dialects of the nation

Sakowin-seven

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Tiwahe (Family of 7)

Tiospaye (7 Tiwahe)

Ospaye (7 Tiospaye)

Oyate (7 Ospaye)

Oceti Sakowin:The Power of SevenOceti Sakowin:The Power of Seven

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Significance of Seven: the Significance of Seven: the DirectionsDirections

• Extended directions• 4 cardinal directions-

collateral• 2 lineal directions-up

and down• 1 center or focal

point-the heart1-West Wiyohpeyata

2-North Waziyata

3-East Wiyohiyanpata

7-Center Cantetakiya

4-South Itokagata

5-Upward Wankatuya

6-Downward Kutakiya

1

2

3

4

5

6

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Seven Parts of Time

• 1. Dawn-Anpo• 2. Morning- Anpa• 3. Noon- Wicoka• 4. Afternoon- Wicoka

Sam Hiyeya• 5. Evening- Htayetu• 6. Dusk- Htaotanisni• 7. Night- Hanhepi

Anpo

Anpa

Wicoka

Wicoka Sam Hiyeya

Htayetu

Htaotanisni

Hanhepi

½

Horizon

Sun

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Cinska Sinte YukanCinska Sinte Yukan(Big Dipper)(Big Dipper)The Big Dipper is another fixture in the night skies that hold a special meaning for the Lakota, it cor-responds to seven, a special Lakota number. The prominence of this group of stars takes place during the Vernal Equinox and when the Wanagi Tacanku approaches it. Moreover this touches off the first ceremony known to the Lakota people called the Wasigla (Mourning) rites. The upside down position of the Cinska Sinte Yukan(Big Dipper) once coincided with the heli-acal rise of the first point of Aries or spring in 1,300 BC. This may indicate how old the Wasigla rite, along with the pipe, and the concept of the 7 Council Fires are.

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WetuB

loke

tu

Ptanyetu

Wan

iyet

u

The Big Dipper and the SeasonsThe Big Dipper and the Seasons• Positions of the Big

Dipper determine the seasons

• Wetu is spring time• Bloketu is summer• Ptanyetu is fall• Waniyetu is winter

Wetu comes from Wi (sun) and yetu (time of) time of the sun

Bloketu comes from bloka (male-bull) and yetu (time of) (time of the male)

Ptanyetu comes from ptan(decaying vegetation) and yetu (time of the decaying vegetation)

Waniyetu comes from wa (snow) ni (breath) and yetu) time of the snow breath

Wetu and Ptanyetu are equinox seasons (equal days and nights)

Bloketu and Waniyetu are solstice seasons (longer daylight and shorter daylight)

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The Four Titles of the Big DipperThe Four Titles of the Big Dipper

• Is a burial motif for a wasigla rite, during the spring-its position is up-side down

• Is a clan made up of seven council fires

• Is a paddle to carry embers for sweat rite

• Is a water carrier to pour on rocks for the Oinikaga (sweat rite)

• Is a pipe for ceremonies

Wicakiyuhapi (body stretcher) Oceti Sakowin (7 Council Fires) Cinska Sinte Yukan (dipper) Cansasa Ipusye (tobacco mix)

Titonwan

Ihanktonwanna

Ihanktonwan

Sissitonwan

Wahpetonwan

Wahpekute

Mdewakantonwan

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The Legend of the Big DipperThe Legend of the Big Dipper• Tonwin, a human, married

North Star who took her to live in the sky realm

• When she plucked a tinpsila (turnip) the world came in view through a hole

• She became homesick and braided lots of tinpsila to-gether to help her descend to the earth

• As she descended, the tin-psila rope broke and she, impregnated, fell to earth

• The impact killed her but her son survived and became Star Boy, the culture hero of the people

North Star slumped in deep grief for the loss of his wife and froze in a kneel-ing position never to move

Tonwin means birth woman, she is the patron of midwives-midwives are usually aunts, hence this term means aunt

Scientists have detected evid-ence of a black hole in the mid-dle of the bowl

When a child is conceived, its soul comes out of a hole in the bowl of the Big Dipper

Owanjila Najin (Stands Still)

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WakanWakan TankaTankaThe term Wakan is controversially translated as sacred in an all embracing context. It is in a certain context that this term can mean sacred but it cannot be applied to everything because everything would be sacred. Hence, this term means something else, other than wakan, if it is applied to everything. A case in point is the term wakankan s’a (a liar). Wakankan literally means double sacred, if the term is translated as sacred. Christian interpretation of wakan has stubborn- ly retained the meaning to be sacred and it has persisted to this day.

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Concept of Concept of WakanWakan TankaTanka

• It means everything that exists above, below and collaterally or everything in the universe, including the universe

• All life form that includes what the wasicun call inanimate objects are wakan

• Wakan Tanka is made up of the colors of the rainbow or is a prism from which all color emanate

White is unique because it has no color and all who possess this color are unique

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Manifestations of Manifestations of WakanWakan TankaTanka• Prominent fixtures in

the sky and life forms on earth are embodi-ments of Wakan Tanka

• The Lakota pay hom- age to a minimum of sixteen of these mani- festations

• These 16 consists of 4 sets or tobtob kin

Wakan Tanka Is known by 4 Titles

4 Superior Deities

4 Associate Deities

4 Kindred Deities

4 Deities-Like16

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The Concept of The Concept of TobtobTobtob KinKin and the and the One Out of ManyOne Out of Many

• The sets of four can lead to infinity but are one called Taku Skanskan or Wakan Tanka

• One out of many• Many out of one

Tu

nka

sila

Nagi Tanka

Waicah

ye

Itancan

1

16

2

3

4 5 6

7

8

9

10

11

121314

15

Titles of Wakan Tanka

16 Manifestations of Wakan Tanka

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Sixteen Manifestations of Sixteen Manifestations of WakanWakan TankaTanka

TITLES OF WAKAN TANKA

Tunkasila Nagi Tanka Waicahye Itancan/Naca ( (Chief) (Great Spirit) (Creator) (Executive)

Superior Inyan (rock) Maka (earth) Skan (sky) Wi (sun) Associates Hanwi (moon) Tate (wind) Hopeca (beautiful

one)Wakinyan(Tbird) Kindreds Tatanka (bison) Mato (bear) Tate Topa (4

Winds) *Wamniomni Wakanlapi Nagi (spirit) Wanagi (ghost) Nagila (spirit-

like) Sicun (potency)*(Whirlwind)

SIXTEEN MANIFESTATIONS OF WAKAN TANKA

INYAN

MAKA

SKANWI HANWI

TATE

HOPECA

WAKINYAN

TATANKA

MATO

TATE TOPANAGI WAMNIOMNI

WANAGI

NAGILA

SICUN

NAGI TANKA

TUNKASILA WAICAHYE

ITANCAN/NACA

INITIPI AND THE MANIFESTATIONSINITIPI AND THE MANIFESTATIONS

W

N

E

S

Black

Red

Yellow

White

fire

pit

SUPERIOR (WANKATUYA)

ASSOCIATES (KOLAPI)

KINDREDS (TITAKUYEPI)

SPIRITLIKE (WAKANLAPI)

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Other Manifestations

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The Alteration of The Alteration of MitakuyeMitakuye OyasinOyasin

This term is an ancient one, it goes back to the time when humans were classified with animals that eventually lead to the separation of the mammals from the main stem of other life forms. The elders of the tribe recognized this because of the many similarities of all life forms. They concluded that we are all related and not only are we related, we are closely linked in a symbiotic relationship. This familial circle of life ties the Lakota closer to all life forms. The term Mitakuye (my relatives) Oyas’in (from Oyate-nation/life form and s’in- everyone) means all my relatives.

53

Concept of Concept of MitakuyeMitakuye OyasinOyasin

• All my relations• Everything above• Everything below• Everything between

or collaterally

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Before the Coming of the PipeBefore the Coming of the PipeBefore the pipe came to the Lakota, they exper-ienced hardships. These hardships were based on the splitting effect of the nation that began to result in the creation of divisions within. The tribe tried to bring these factions together by their ancient practice of smoking a pipe as a way of bringing the people together. This worked in the beginning but was not productive. The problem was the pipe itself, it consisted of one bowl with seven outlets for the stems. In order to smoke all had to be together to smoke it. The tribe was too large to continue this practice. What was needed was seven pipes for seven groups.

55

The Concept of Cannunpa Kin• The Pipe• Pipe rite is always performed

in all of the ceremonies• The main purpose of the pipe

is to invoke all of the directions and all life forms, residing in these directions

• It is the bridge between the spiritual world and the natural world via the smoke

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The Coming of the PipeThe Coming of the Pipe

• It comes when hard times come to the tribe

• The White Buffalo Calf Women brought the pipe and the Woope (laws) to the people

• She brought rites and ceremonies to the Lakota

Bobby Penn drawing

57

The Protocol of the CeremoniesThe Protocol of the CeremoniesThe Lakota have many ceremonies, but in the beginning of their cultural development they had few. As the tribe developed the ceremonies in-creased. Three rites were initially performed. The first ceremony known to the people was the wasigla (mourning) ceremony. This was not only logical but archaeologically sound. Burial sites go back thousands of years. The 2nd and 3rd ceremony were the Hanbleceyapi (vision quest) and Wiwang Wacipi (Sun Dance). The elders say that ancient sacrificial rites were done in an isolated area where one was pierced and sat alone for days to acquire a vision.

58

The CeremoniesThe Ceremonies

• Cannunpapi………………...(pipe) Ceremony• Cincaton Okihipi…….....(puberty age) Rites• Hanbleceyapi……………….…(vision quest)• Hunka Kagapi……………(making a relative)• Inikagapi………………….(sweat ceremony)• Kiciyuzapi……………………(marriage) Rites• Lowanpi……………(sing for a cure or quest)• Ocastonpi.............................(name giving)• Wasiglapi…...............(mourning ceremony) • Wiwanyank Wacipi…………....(sun dance)

59

The Medicine Man: Past and PresentThe Medicine Man: Past and Present

Medicine men played a large role in the lives of the people. They were duly noted as iyeska or intercessors that interpret the Lakota ceremon-ial practices. The term means white speakers or truth sayers who interpret the will of the uni-versal controllers. The Medicine men became healers through a vision that revealed them to be medicine men. Sometimes they became medicine men through a hereditary process that required a kin to give his sicun or power to his son or grandson. Today, this method is widely followed to preserve the system.

60

The The WapiyaWapiya WicasaWicasa: The : The IeskaIeska

• The Medicine Man• They can be healers,

holy men or specialize in herbs for cure

• Medicine man is tran-slated as Pejuta Wica-sa, a healer is translat-ed as Wapiya Wicasa, a holy man is translated as Wicasa Wakan

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WolakotaWolakotaWolakota is made of two words Wo and lakota. Lakota comes from two words la and kota. Wo stands for a noun, La is a term of endearment and kota is an old word that evolved into koda, kona and kola that means friend. Conceptually, wo instills the idea of practicing kota or friendship. Ways of practicing friendship are to create an endearing peaceful and tranquil interrelationship with each other and for all who are called this term.

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A Wider Interpretation of A Wider Interpretation of WolakotaWolakota

Wolakota is a term that appeals for unity among the people. Da, Na, or La is a term of endear- ment that emphasis kota or friendship. Da, Na, or La is usually placed at the suffix of a word, however it is placed at the prefix to add emphas- is. Moreover, by adding these prefixes and re- taining kota (the old word for friend), each dia- lect retained its own identity; and when wo is added on, then total unity and peace was esta- blished for the entire people.

63

Concept of Concept of WolakotaWolakota

• Means peace• A state of harmonious

relationship among people who have come together to achieve a common goal based on compassion, mutuality, and generosity

• It creates friendships & pacts

• It is a way of life

The Cannunpa: The Symbol of

Wolakota

64

Reflection of Lakota Thought and Reflection of Lakota Thought and PhilosophyPhilosophy

Lakota world view prepared the people to live a well balanced life and this balanced lifestyle was reflected in how the land was cared for, the land was in pristine order when the wasicun acquired it.

Today, the land and the environment is nearing the toler- ance point because it is overworked, depleted and in a great need to be revitalized. This is being realized by the wasicun and they are looking for alternatives to save the land and the environment. They are finally realizing that their alternatives rest on the foundations of what the Lakota and other indigenous people believed in and how they viewed the thought and philosophy process that brought harmony to the order of the world and the universe.

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HeceglaHecegla

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Slide Credits

• All slides and graphics were created by Victor Douville, except for some photo collections and drawings that were bought or donated anonymously and those that were duly cited as a courtesy.