Sioux Nation Lakota Analysis

The Sioux and Chippewa Indian tribes’ have a drastically different way of living compared to what other people are accustomed to in terms of their history, clothing, tools, and weapons needed for survival. The Sioux Indians were originally from Asia, but migrated to America about 30,000 years ago. Their long, straight jet-black hair resembles that of the Asian descendants. The Sioux tribes were located in The Great Plains, which consists of 7 different states Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota; however, they were also known to live in parts of Nebraska, Illinois, and Montana. “The name Sioux is an abbreviation of Nadouessioux. (Britannica) The name was given to them by the Ojibwa (Chippewa). Sioux means, “Little snake”. The Sioux tended to follow the pattern of the buffalo, which is why they are found in multiple locations.

The Lakota, an Indian group of the Great Plains, established their community in the Black Hills in the late eighteenth century (9). This group is an example of an Indian community that got severely oppressed through imperialistic American actions and policy, as the Americans failed to recognize the Lakota’s sovereignty and ownership of the Black Hills. Jeffrey Ostler, author of The Lakotas and the Black Hills: The Struggle for Sacred Ground, shows that the Lakota exemplified the trends and subsequent challenges that Indians faced in America. These challenges included the plurality of groups, a shared colonial experience, dynamic change, external structural forces, and historical agency.

Of all the features upon the earth there are some ascribed with special significance. These features, whether caves, lakes, deserts, outcroppings, or something else entirely, hold tremendous relevance for the groups that dwell near them. Such beliefs in the worth and importance of such sites are entrusted from one passing generation to the next. These beliefs, and the physical objects they rest upon, become increasingly vital to that group’s identity as a people. One such group is the Teton Lakota of the Sioux Nation in South Dakota, an area that has been home to them for hundreds of years and, while their entire homeland is precious to them, of particular importance are the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa as they are called in Lakota.

The book “Lakota Woman,” is an autobiography that depicts Mary Crow Dog and Indians’ Lives. Because I only had a limited knowledge on Indians, the book was full of surprising incidents. Moreover, she starts out her story by describing how her Indian friends died in miserable and unjustifiable ways. After reading first few pages, I was able to tell that Indians were mistreated in the same manners as African-Americans by whites. The only facts that make it look worse are, Indians got their land stolen and prejudice and inequality for them still exists.

I chose to research the Ponca Indian Tribe because they started out in the midwest, and currently still live in Nebraska. The 4 elements I have elected to write about are the social organizations, their customs and traditions, language, and the forms of government involved with the Ponca Indian Tribe.

The United States is currently attempting to build a pipeline underneath Lake Oahe that will damage Native American burial sites and will contaminate primary source of drinking water for the Sioux Tribe. First there will be a brief description of what happening with the protest at Standing Rock. Following these facts about this atrocity this paper will begin with a historical summary of the Sioux Tribe, the main set of protesters who are fighting to keep the pipeline from being constructed. Following this the paper will discus the culture and sacred sites that the pipeline would be affecting for the Sioux Tribe. Therefore no tribe should have to go through these abuse violation of their lands and such should be a better policy to protect

The Lakota Indians, are sometimes known as the Sioux, but they call themselves the Lakota, which is translated as ‘friend’ or ‘ally’ in their native tongue. Their description of themselves make sense when looking at their seven virtues that they live by, “These are Wóčhekiye (Prayer), Wóohola (Respect), Wówauŋšila (Compassion), Wówičakȟe (Honesty), Wówačhaŋtognaka (Generosity), Wówaȟwala (Humility) and Wóksape (Wisdom) (“Lakota Today”). A culture’s idea of the most importance qualities a good person should have gives a good idea of what kind of people they are. The Lakota’s virtues all revolve around a general concept of respect for everything, compassion, humility, and honesty. These things can either refer to their fellow man, or

            Virtues are usually taught through the eyes of the wise, also known as the elder. In the book The Lakota Way, by Joseph M. Marshall III, his tribe teaches virtues though story telling. The virtues of the Lakota tribe and those of my family are more similar then I had anticipated, although we do have our differences.

Spring: The Dakotas tribe were returning to their camps when Spring had arrived. They got straight to tapping the maple trees.They would use the syrup for sugar and hard candies. They would also use the syrup for geese and duck bills.They would trade the syrup for other goodies .They would hunt muskrats,otters, beavers,minks, and martens. The muskrats were used to feed hunters.

This quote demonstrates how the Native American’s decision to fight for their right for the Black Hills proves how their cultural identity has transformed throughout their history and how they continue to fight still today. In today’s society, the Black Hills are known more for Mount Rushmore than anything Native American related. The construction of Mount Rushmore agitated many members of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Stating that “Mount Rushmore was not the Shrine of Democracy; instead, it was the Hoax of Democracy” (Pg.168). This quote reveals how although many Americans in today’s society view Mount Rushmore as a symbol for America and Democracy that many Natives view it as disgrace to their culture and people. This is because the Natives continue to fight for their rightful claim to the Black Hills and will not stop until justice

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe currently fights to save its only water source from natural gas and oil contamination. This troubling current event has a somewhat forgotten historical analogue where very similar themes presented themselves. The Kinzua Dam Controversy, which took place in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, resulted in the displacement of over 600 Seneca Indian families and the acquisition of a large tract of traditional Seneca Land for dam building. Additionally, the acquisition of Seneca land represented a breach of “The Treaty with the Six Nations of 1794,” which explicated prevented such action by the US Government. The dam and its construction, which primarily benefitted Pittsburg, inspired a heated discourse concerning the ethics of native relocation.

: In chapter 12, the miners tried to take the Black Hills from the Sioux People but they were not going to give it away that easily they fought against the whites. They were successful for a while until the council came in, took away their home, and moved them away from their Home. The Great Council promised them a lot but failed to grant it to

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe believes in the importance of tradition, and protecting their history; The Developers of the DAPL believe in progress, expediency, and the law. These are two way of thinking that are not going to be compatible when it comes to the cooperation and development of the DPAL. Even though much cooperation from other tribes has been conducted and alteration of development has been facilitated so to reach a compromise with the effected tribes. The ultimate want for these tribes is that the pipeline simply does not exist, this unfortunately is not a possibility considering much development, time, and resources have been put into the project. Only so much compromise can be made but there must come a point when no more mitigation

Gun BALL, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota district has issued a warrant for the capture of Green Party presidential hopeful Jill Stein, who is blamed for shower painting development hardware amid a challenge the Dakota Access pipeline.

Looking back on my Belmont experiences, I believe the most influential experience that taught me the different perspectives of the world is when I participated in the study abroad program in South Dakota to study the Native American Culture. We lodged at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Lakota: Wazí Aháŋhaŋ Oyáŋke), which is the home of the Oglala Lakota Native Americans.