Narratives. How The Lark Won The Race : HOW THE LARK WON THE RACE. The Old Woman told the wolf, the turtle, and the lark that if they would help her grandson find his wife she would give each of them what he most wished. They helped her grandson and he found that his wife was stolen by the Crazy Buffalo. He killed the Crazy Buffalo...
Narratives. When Wohpe Came To The World : WHEN WOHPE CAME TO THE WORLD. Before the directions were given to the world Tate with his four sons and his little son dwelt in his round lodge beyond the region of the pines. At midday the sun looked through the door of the lodge toward the place of honor to see that all was well with Tate...
The Sun Dance. Greeting The Sun : GREETING THE SUN. When the second holy day dawns the red herald should proclaim that "Anp", the forerunner of the Sun announces that it will be a blue day, or if the dawn indicates that clouds will hide the face of the Sun when He begins His daily journey, then the herald should proclaim th...
The Sun Dance. Choosing The Mentor : p. 63 CHOOSING THE MENTOR. He should choose some one to be his Mentor to prepare him for the Ceremony. He should make this choice according to the purpose for which he will undertake the dance, for his Mentor should be one who can fit him for that purpose. He may choose anyone, except that if he...
The Sun Dance. The Procession Of Sex : THE PROCESSION OF SEX. From dawn on the third holy day until the Sun shows His face, the same rites should be performed as on the preceding day. Then the herald should call the people to form the procession of sex in which children take no part. It should form near the council lodge, the women...
The Sun Dance. The Third Day : THE THIRD DAY. Early on the third day the herald of the camp should proclaim that the Superior is about to announce the names of those appointed as the hunter (scout), the digger, the escort, and the musicians. The people should assemble about the council lodge, where the Superior should make these...
Translations Of Texts. The Circle : THE CIRCLE. (By Tyon.) The Oglala believe the circle to be sacred because the Great Spirit caused everything in nature to be round except stone. Stone is the implement of destruction. The sun and the sky, the earth and the moon are round like a shield, though the sky is deep like a bowl. Everything...
The Sun Dance. The Journey Of The Bands : THE JOURNEY OF THE BANDS TO THE SUN DANCE SITE. The location of the ceremonial camp circle is selected by common consent. The requisites are promixity to water, growing cottonwood, and sufficient wood. The site for the circle should be nearly level so that there will be no obstructions to the rites...
The Sun Dance. Preparation Of The Candidate : PREPARATION OF THE CANDIDATE. Soon after the public announcement of the relation of Mentor and Candidate, the Mentor should require the Candidate to enter a sweatlodge to "ini", or vitalize. "Inipi", or vitalizing, is an act of more or less ceremony to stimulate the "ni", or vitality, so that it...
Translations Of Texts. The Number Four : THE NUMBER FOUR. (By Tyon.) In former times the Lakota grouped all their activities by four's. This was because they recognized four directions: the west, the north, the east, and the south; four divisions of time: the day, the night, the moon, and the year; four parts to everything that grows...
Narratives. The Old Woman : THE OLD WOMAN. There once was a very industrious woman. Her man provided for her so that her tipi was large and there were plenty of robes and clothing. Her children were all boys and the family was very happy. Her mother gave her a charm which made her more beautiful as she grew older. The chief...
The Sun Dance. Capture Of The Tree : CAPTURE OF THE TREE. On the second holy day, after the escort has driven evil beings from the camp and the Superior has formally greeted the Sun, the red herald should proclaim that the people form for the procession of the Bear God. Then a procession should form and march as on the previous day...
The Sun Dance. Greeting The Sun On The Fourth : GREETING THE SUN ON THE FOURTH, OR MID-YEAR DAY. The Oglala regard the fourth holy day above all other days, for it is the mid-year day. They anticipate a joyful time on that day, whether on their part it is devoted to ceremonies or spent as a mere holiday. There fore, they are apt to be astir...
Narratives. Narratives : p. 164 NARRATIVES. The following narratives were collected in the course of this investigation and are offered as a contribution to Dakota folklore. About the only data so far published under this head are to be found in the following fragmentary collections: S. R. Riggs, "Dakota Grammar, Texts...
The Hunka Ceremony. The Meat Offering : THE MEAT OFFERING. While the Conductor was smoking, the Assistant arranged the meat on the scaffold, the lean meat at one end, the fat at the other. Then the Conductor addressed the skull and said, "Hunka" of "Tatanka", this meat was yours, but you gave it to me. If there is any part of it that you...
The Sun Dance. Building The Sun Lodge : BUILDING THE SUN LODGE. As soon as the tipis are set up to form the ceremonial camp circle, the bands should detail a number of men as workmen who should immediately begin the erection of the Dance Lodge and work at it continuously until it is completed, which should be not later than midday...
The Sun Dance. The Buffalo Dance : THE BUFFALO DANCE. The remaining rites are the dances, of which there must be two, though there may be others. These two are the Buffalo Dance and the Sun-Gazing Dance. These dances are divided into periods. The Buffalo Dance has four periods and the Sun-Gazing Dance must have four and may have...
Narratives. Wooing Wohpe : WOOING WOHPE. ("a") Wohpe dwelt in the tipi of old Tate and served him and his sons. The skins she dressed were soft and white; the moccasins she made were good and comfortable; p. 174 the food she prepared was always abundant. She kept the fire burning and the talk pleasant so that all were happy...
Narratives. The Wizard And His Wife : THE WIZARD AND HIS WIFE. (Told by Hoka-chatka.) Long ago, there was an old woman and her little grandson who were so ragged and filthy that the people drove them from the camp and they lived alone, far away from anyone. She was a wise woman and taught the boy strange things so that when he w...
Narratives. The Buffalo Woman : p. 183 THE BUFFALO WOMAN. 1 (Told by Hoka-chatka.) Long ago, a man took a woman to live with him. She bore him two daughters, then a son, and then two more daughters. They cared for these children until they grew up. When the boy was grown, he hunted and provided the family with everything, so...
The Sun Dance. The Second Day : THE SECOND DAY. Early on the second day the council of the Bear God should assemble at the council lodge. This council is composed of the Superior, the Mentors, the Candidates, and such Shamans, chiefs, and councilors as may wish to take part in their deliberations. The Superior should fill...
The Sun Dance. Scouting For The Tree : SCOUTING FOR THE TREE During the erection of the Sacred Lodge, the Superior should order the hunter, or scout, to go and search for game, and if he should see signs of an enemy, to return and report to him. The hunter should go, prepared as if for hunting, and when he comes to growing cottonwood...
The Sun Dance. Installation Of The Dancers : INSTALLATION OF THE DANCERS. When the Dance Lodge is occupied, the Superior may harangue concerning the Sun Dance and then he should fill and light a pipe and pass it so that all in the lodge may smoke in communion, and while doing so, the attendants should make a fire of buffalo chips on the altar...
The Hunka Ceremony. Rites Of The Ear Of Corn : RITES OF THE EAR OF CORN. He then emptied the pipe, putting the residuum on the fire, took the ear of corn, and thrust the rod to which it was attached, into the altar so that the rod stood upright. He said, "Our Grandmother gave us this corn. She sent it to the Lakota by the Buffalo wom...
The Sun Dance. The Scalp Staff Dance : THE SCALP-STAFF DANCE. During any period anyone who has danced the Sun Dance to its completion may cause blood to flow from a wound on his person, lay a suitable offering to the Sun on the altar and join the dancers, dancing the first form for as many periods as he wishes. Anyone may jo...
The Sun Dance. Regalia Of The Candidate : REGALIA OF THE CANDIDATE. The Mentor should instruct until he is satisfied that the Candidate understands what the authority, powers, functions, and emoluments of a Shaman are and then he should make sure that the Candidate is provided with the required regalia, which are:-- A red skirt made...
Narratives. When The People Laughed At Hanwi : WHEN THE PEOPLE LAUGHED AT HANWI. Wazi was chief of the people who dwell under the world, and his woman, Kanka, was a seer. Their daughter, Ite, the wife of Tate, was the most beautiful of women. She gave birth -to four sons at one time which proved these children to be gods. Yet Wazi was not...
Translations Of Texts. Invocation : INVOCATION BY A SHAMAN. The invocation and its explanation were given in Lakota by Sword and interpreted by Thomas Mills. Before a Shaman can perform a ceremony in which mysterious beings or things have a part, he should fill and light a pipe and say:-- p. 157 "Friend of "Wakinyan", I pass the pipe...
The Sun Dance. Invitations : p. 65 INVITATIONS. This council should appoint two reputable young men as "akicita", or messengers, to other bands. These messengers should be provided with a sufficient number of invitation wands and presents, a pipe, and sufficient tobacco. An invitation wand is made of a sprout from a plum tree...
Narratives. The Feast : THE FEAST BY TATE. (Told by Little-wound.) When Wohpe came to stay with Tate he gave a feast to Taku Wakan. He consulted with his sons as to whom he should invite. They first chose the Wakan Tanka. Wi was the first chosen because be was Wakan Tanka. Hanwi, his wife, was the second chosen because...
Translations Of Texts. Conception Of Energy : p. 154 CONCEPTION OF ENERGY. (The following is a literal transcript of a conversation with Finger, a distinguished shaman, March 25, 1914.) I heard you exclaim when a meteorite fell and heard you address the people immediately afterwards. Then I saw you burning sweetgrass. Will you tell me why you...
The Hunka Ceremony. Order Of Ceremony : p. 126 ORDER OF CEREMONY. The following is a description of an elaborate performance of the ceremony observed by the author. Fortunately, the interpreter at the ceremony was Bruce Means, who was able to interpret the old forms of Lakota speech. One of those made "Hunka" at this ceremony gave...
Narratives. Iktomi And The Young Man : p. 192 IKTOMI AND THE YOUNG MAN. There was a young man who had many horses and plenty of adornments. He had four sisters who made many ornaments of quillwork, painted robes for him, and made plenty of clothing so that he was always well-dressed and finely painted and had plenty of everything...
Introduction : p. 55 INTRODUCTION. The Siouan words in this paper are of the Teton dialect as it is spoken by the Oglala, the letters in them having the same values as in English, except that those in the following table represent only the sounds indicated therein:-- a as a in far e as a in fate i as e in me o...
Narratives. How The North Wind Lost His Birthright : HOW THE NORTH WIND LOST HIS BIRTHRIGHT. The directions moved from place to place over the world so the Wind told the Four Winds to mark the directions so that each of them would know where be belonged. He told them that the North Wind, as the oldest, ought to have the p. 172 first direction, which...
Translations Of Texts. Autobiographical Note : AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE BY SWORD. At the time of his death Sword was writing an autobiography from which the following has been translated. When I believed the Oglala "Wakan Tanka" was right I served him with all my powers. I became a "Wicasa Wakan" (Shaman) and conducted all the ceremonies...
Narratives. Legends Of The Orig : LEGENDS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE BUFFALO CEREMONY. (Told by Antoin Herman, a mixed-blood Oglala.) Iktomi, wandering in the west, came to the tipi of "Tatanka" who invited him into his lodge and gave him an abundance of food. Then "Iktomi" said, "My friend, you are large and strong, and very wise, while...
The Sun Dance. The Buffalo Feast : p. 104 THE BUFFALO FEAST. When the Candidates have occupied the Sacred Lodge, the Superior should order the red herald to proclaim that the buffalo Procession will be formed. It should be formed near the council lodge with the Superior and Mentors at the head, followed by the escort, and then by...
Narratives. The Death Of Iya : THE DEATH OF IYA. (Told by Hoka-chatka.) Many people were camped on a creek for a feast. On one side of the camp was a large red lodge and on the other, a large yellow lodge. One day, a man came running and told them that Iya was lying asleep not far away up the creek. The people were much excited...
Narratives. The Stone Boy : THE STONE BOY. 1 (A Dakota myth, told by Naopi-sica.) The Four Brothers lived together without any woman, so they did the woman's work. One time as the oldest was gathering wood, after nightfall, something ran into his big toe. This pained him but little and he soon forgot it, but his toe beg...
The Hunka Ceremony. Incense And The Pipe : INCENSE AND THE PIPE. When the Conductor ceased singing this song he entered the lodge and sat at the "catku". He then filled and lighted a pipe in the formal manner and handed it to the Assistant, who smoked and passed it to the younger man, who also smoked and passed the pipe. It was passed until...
The Sun Dance. Special Instructions : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CEREMONY. When these provisions are made, the Mentor should instruct the Candidate relative to his conduct while in the Sacred Lodge, as follows:-- Before entering the Sacred Lodge a Candidate should strip and wear p. 93 only a breechclout and moccasins. While...
Narratives. How The Lakota Came Upon The World : HOW THE LAKOTA CAME UPON THE WORLD. Iktomi tricked the animals and laughed at the misery he caused them, but they were not shamed, so he longed to play his pranks on mankind. At that time the only persons of mankind on the world were the old man, the old woman, and the double-woman. Iktomi feared...
The Sun Dance. The Sun Gaze Dance : THE SUN-GAZE DANCE. When this rite is over, the fourth intermission of the Buffalo Dance is completed and the buffalo men should return to their robes. The Sun-Gaze Dance should immediately follow. There are four acts in this dance: the capture, the torture, the captivity, and the escape, which...
Narratives. The Sun Dance Taught To The Lakota : THE SUN DANCE TAUGHT TO THE LAKOTA. In their winter camp the Lakota were hungry and the little children cried for meat. In a visitation a shaman was told that if a man would go west he would be taught how the people could get food. At the council a young man offered to go, so the people gave him...
Narratives. When The Wizard Came : WHEN THE WIZARD CAME. The wizard was not permitted on the world, so he traveled around on the edge until he made a trail there. He spoke to the stars as they passed near him and asked each for permission to go to the world, but they never granted his request. He saw that some stars never came down...
The Sun Dance. Completion Of The Ceremony : COMPLETION OF THE CEREMONY. The Sun-Gazing dance should continue until all the captives have escaped, or until the next day has dawned, when, if they have not escaped, they should be freed from their bonds and the sticks removed from their wounds, and it will be considered that they have been...
Next. Sicun : SICUN. (By Sword.) The word "Sicun" is from the sacred language of the shamans. It signifies the spirit of a man. This spirit is given to him at birth to guard him against the evil spirits and at death it conducts him to the land of the spirits, but does not go there itself. In the course of his...
The Sun Dance. The Sun Dance : p. 60 THE SUN DANCE. One desiring to dance the Sun Dance according to the customs of the Oglala as they were practised before contact with white people should choose an instructor to prepare him for the ceremony, who should teach him, in substance, as follows:-- The Sun Dance of the Oglala is...
Translations Of Texts. The Concept Ni : THE CONCEPT NI. (By Sword.) A man's "Ni" is his life. It is the same as his breath and that which gives him his strength. It is the "Ni" which keeps the inside of a man clean. If the "Ni" is weak, he cannot perform this office and if it goes away the man dies. "Niya" is the ghost or spirit which is...
The Hunka Ceremony. The Secret Ceremony : THE SECRET CEREMONY. He then directed that the older man who was to be the "Hunka" of the younger sit beside the younger. He did so and the Assistant and Recorder held a robe so that it hid the older and younger man from view. The Conductor took two small globular packages wrapped in deersk...
The Hunka Ceremony. Rites Of The Buffalo Skull : RITES OF THE BUFFALO SKULL. When the Conductor had thus addressed the younger man he filled and lighted the ceremonial pipe as before, blew smoke from it into the nostril cavities of the buffalo skull on the altar, and then gave the pipe to the younger man, saying, "Smoke with the spirit...
The Sun Dance. Sacred Lodge Erected : p. 102 SACRED LODGE ERECTED. When this location is established the Sacred Lodge should be erected in the following manner. It should be the new tipi and poles provided with the equipment. The women who are to chop the Sacred Tree should erect these poles and then the Superior should paint a dab...
The Hunka Ceremony. The Hunka Ceremony : p. 122 THE HUNKA CEREMONY. The "Hunka" ceremony is a Lakota ceremony in which two persons adopt the "Hunka" relationship toward each other and thereby both assume a more restricted relationship with all for whom the ceremony has been performed. The term, "Hunka", 1 expresses the relationship...
Translations Of Texts. The Causes Of Diseases : THE CAUSES OF DISEASES (Told by No-flesh) My father was a medicineman and he knew all diseases. He knew what caused them. He could cure all diseases. He knew the best of medicines. When he was a very young man, he had a vision, in which the great bear took him to the region of the spirits. He...
Narratives. How The West Wind Became : HOW THE WEST WIND BECAME THE COMPANION OF THE WINGED GOD. The Four Winds fixed the four directions on the world. They were told to fix the direction of the North Wind first, but Wazi deceived them so that they came first to the place of the West Wind and fixed that first. Thus the West Wind is...
Narratives. The Beginning Of Foot Racing : THE BEGINNING OF FOOT RACING. (Told by Hoka-chatka.) Long ago a chief left his camp to visit a camp far away. On the way, he came to a man running over hills and valleys and round and round. He asked the man why he did this and he said he was a magician and running was part of the mysteries he...
The Buffalo Ceremony. The Buffalo Ceremony : p. 141 THE BUFFALO CEREMONY. According to the former doctrine and practices of the Oglala, the influences that surround a young woman during her first menstrual flow will control her after life either for good or for evil, according to the preponderance of good or evil influences at this time...
The Sun Dance. The Second Four Day Period : THE SECOND FOUR DAY PERIOD. The next four days, when the final ceremonial camp should be maintained, are the four holy days of midsummer, when it is meet to perform ceremonies that pertain to the Gods. Then the Earth has caused the ground to bring forth the grass to fatten the buffalo...
Title Page : ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY VOL. XVI, PART II THE SUN DANCE AND OTHER CEREMONIES OF THE OGLALA DIVISION OF THE TETON DAKOTA. BY J. R. WALKER. The American Museum Of Natural History NEW YORK PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES 1917 Scanned , November, 2002. J.B...
The Sun Dance. Piercing Children's Ears : PIERCING CHILDREN'S EARS. During the next rite the musicians should remain silent and the buffalo men should sing and drum as often and when the leader deems fit. When the Buffalo men are seated about the buffalo skin the mothers should place the babes whose ears are to be pierced on the beds...
The Sun Dance. Secret Instructions For A Shaman : SECRET INSTRUCTIONS FOR A SHAMAN. When the Mentor is satisfied that the Candidate understands the social customs of the Oglala sufficiently well to know when a Shaman may, or may not, interfere with them, he should then instruct him relative to the doctrines and ceremonials pertaining to the Gods...
The Hunka Ceremony. Painting And Exchanging : PAINTING AND EXCHANGING CLOTHING. The Conductor then removed the ear of corn from the altar, giving it to the one who had charge of it and replaced the buffalo skull on the altar. He then took red paint from his pouch and said, "This paint is sacred for I prepared it ceremonially. Its potency is...
The Hunka Ceremony. Waving The Wands : p. 133 WAVING THE WANDS. The Conductor rentered the lodge and sitting at the "catku" sang this song: "Kindred sacred are coming, They come toward me. Kindred sacred are coming, They come from the west." An interpretation of this song is that the influences of the relationship of "Hunkaya" were...
The Hunka Ceremony. Equipment For The Ceremony : EQUIPMENT FOR THE CEREMONY. The implements required for the rites are:-- 1. To be provided by the participants: 2 "Hunka" wands 2 rattles 1 ear of corn 1 fire carrier 1 counting rod 1 scaffold 1 drum 2. To be provided by the conductor: 1 ceremonial pipe 1 buffalo skull with the horns attached 1...
The Sun Dance. Raising The Sun Pole : p. 109 RAISING THE SUN POLE. They should then go in procession on the Sun Trail to the Dance Lodge and enter it. There the Superior should prepare the Fetish of the Sun Dance, making it of four times four wands of chokecherry wood and enclosing in it a wisp of sage, one of sweetgrass, and a tuft...
Narratives. How Big Foot Got His Name : HOW BIG-FOOT GOT HIS NAME. (Told by John Blunt-horn.) In the moon, when the leaves fall, in the year when many stars fell, a war party of twenty men went on the warpath against the Pawnee. A small orphan boy wanted to go with them, but as he was only nine years old, they refused him at first. He...
The Hunka Ceremony. The Ceremony : THE CEREMONY. At dawn of the next day the people were astir, preparing the morning meal, and for the ceremony of the day. As the sun appeared over the horizon, the Conductor faced it and chanted an invocation to "Wi", invoking that God to speak for the people to "Taku Wakan", the Gods...
Translations Of Texts. Sicun : SICUN. (As explained by One-star, July 8th, 1897 and interpreted by Elmer Red-eyes.) A "Sicun" is like a spirit. It is the "ton-ton sni", that is, it is immortal and cannot die. A Lakota may have many "Sicunpi", but he always has one. It is "Wakan", that is, it is like "Wakan Tanka". It may be...
The Sun Dance. The Fourth Day : THE FOURTH DAY. Early in the morning of the fourth day the marshal of the camp should summon the people to assemble and bear the will of the Superior. When the people are assembled, the Superior should announce the names of the p. 99 women appointed to chop the Sacred Tree and the name of the wom...
The Hunka Ceremony. Pronouncing Them Hunka : PRONOUNCING THEM HUNKA. The Conductor then carefully emptied the ceremonial pipe on the chopping board which accompanies the ceremonial pipe and gave it to the Assistant, who put the residuum on the fire. This must be done in a formal manner whenever a ceremonial pipe is smoked, for it w...
The Hunka Ceremony. The Symbolic Capture : THE SYMBOLIC CAPTURE. When the procession began, the younger man and his two friends entered the preparation tipi, pulling down and tying the flap. When the procession bad gone the fourth time around the circle, the Conductor said, "My friends, we have gone around the world. "Yata" has closed...
Translations Of Texts. Wakan Tanka : WAKAN TANKA. (By Sword.) When "Wakan Tanka" wishes one of mankind to do something he makes his wishes known either in a vision or through a shaman.... The shaman addresses "Wakan Tanka" as "Tobtob Kin". This is part of the secret language of the shamans..... "Tobtob Kin" are four times four gods...
The Sun Dance. The First Day's Ceremony : THE FIRST DAY'S CEREMONY. On the first day, soon after the council fire is made, the Mentors and Candidates should assemble in the council lodge and the Mentor of the Candidate who first announced his candidacy should fill and light a pipe and all should smoke in communion. When all have been thus...
The Sun Dance. Duties Of The People : DUTIES OF THE PEOPLE. In the meantime, the people should do their part of the first condition for the ceremony. In addition to providing for the feasts, offerings, and presents, they should provide the necessary equipment. Thus, there should p. 94 be provided for each Candidate who is to dance...
The Sun Dance. Instruction Of A Shaman : p. 72 INSTRUCTION OF A SHAMAN. When these preliminary formalities have been fulfilled in this manner, the Candidate is thereby prepared to receive the instructions that should be given him to fit him to dance either of the last three forms of the Sun Dance, also for the purpose of his undertaking...
Translations Of Texts. Translations Of Texts : p. 152 TRANSLATIONS OF TEXTS. In the following will be found close renderings of texts and conversations upon important concepts referred to in the preceding discussions. The author has prepared for publication a number of texts with both literal and free translations which it is hoped may, be...
Narratives. The Wars Of The Winds : THE WARS OF THE WINDS. Before the world was created, Tate lived far beyond the pines in the land of the ghosts. He was old, but was a wise Shaman with great power over everything. He had five sons, Yata, Yanpa, Eya, Okaga, and Yumni. Yata was cruel and delighted in giving pain to others. He...
Translations Of Texts. Wakan : WAKAN. (By Sword, Translated by Burt Means.) Wakan means very many things. The Lakota understands what it means from the things that are considered "wakan"; yet sometimes its meaning must be explained to him. It is something that is hard to understand. Thus "wasica wakan", means a white m...
Translations Of Texts. The Four Great Virtues : THE FOUR GREAT VIRTUES. The four great virtues that all Lakota should practise are, bravery, generosity, truthfulness, and begetting children. Bravery is the greatest virtue a Lakota can practise. If one is brave, he may transgress in many other things and still keep his tipi in the camp circle...
The Sun Dance. Preparation Of The Candidates : PREPARATION OF THE CANDIDATES. When they arrive at the Sacred Lodge they should go around it four times, enter, and array the Candidates for the dance. Each Mentor should paint his candidate's feet and hands red: Then he should place the symbolic color of the Sky on him so as to indicate the form...