The Oceti Sakowin

The The OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

By Victor Douville

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The The OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

By

Victor Douville

Copyright © 2006 by Victor Douville

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The The OcetiOceti SakowinSakowinThe Oceti Sakowin, the 7 Council Places, is not totally understood by its members in today’s setting. It is an illusive organization that seemingly has no beginning and no profound understanding of when it unraveled and came to an end. Perhaps it is still in flux and changing to fit the contemporary needs today.

With new evidence surfacing, these details of when it started and when it began to collapse is beginning to be formulated.

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Origin of the Oceti Sakowin: Origin of the Oceti Sakowin: PtePte OyateOyate (Buffalo Nation) (Buffalo Nation)

The genesis of the The genesis of the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin is is depicted in the skydepicted in the sky

The red hoop is a The red hoop is a womb with a new womb with a new born emergingborn emerging

The new born is The new born is TokaheTokahe, leader of the , leader of the Pte OyatePte Oyate, coming out, coming out

The red hoop also is The red hoop also is Wind Cave with Wind Cave with TokaheTokahe leading the leading the people out of the people out of the cave.cave.

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Antiquity of the Antiquity of the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin As Seen in the StarsAs Seen in the Stars

In spring time, the Big In spring time, the Big Dipper is upside downDipper is upside down

This coincides with This coincides with the heliacal rise of the the heliacal rise of the 11stst point of Aries or point of Aries or Can-sasa Can-sasa IpusyeIpusye (dried will-ow) (dried will-ow) ConstellationConstellation

The precise alignment The precise alignment was exact in 1300 was exact in 1300 BCEBCE

7 CLANS OF THE OCETI SAKOWIN

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Legend of the Big Dipper and Legend of the Big Dipper and the the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

While hunting, a leader While hunting, a leader suddenly fell and diedsuddenly fell and died

Seven followers took the Seven followers took the body homebody home

During the burial, the During the burial, the widow, with her two child- widow, with her two child- ren behind her, followed ren behind her, followed four stretcher bearersfour stretcher bearers

These 7 became the fore- These 7 became the fore- runners of the runners of the OcetiOceti Sako-Sako- win or 7 clans in the sky win or 7 clans in the sky

Titonwan

Ihanktonwanna

Ihankton

Santi -4 stars in the bowl

THE WASIGLA IN THE SKY (Mourning Rite)

Dipper is in the summer position

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Stage 1: Stage 1: PtePte OyateOyate

Prehuman stagePrehuman stage PtePte means “together” means “together” OyateOyate means life form means life form

in the original contextin the original context All life forms are stuck All life forms are stuck

in a cave in a cave The pre humans await The pre humans await

for for TokaheTokahe to led them to led them out of the caveout of the cave

Stage 1 (Pte Oyate)

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Stage 2: Stage 2: Hununpa-IkceHununpa-Ikce WicasaWicasa Stage 2 is the evolution Stage 2 is the evolution

into human state or the into human state or the two legged stage two legged stage

IkceIkce means the original means the original one and one and wicasawicasa means means human, the first human human, the first human or original humanor original human

TokaheTokahe is the original is the original man who led the people man who led the people out of the caveout of the cave

Stage 1(Pte Oyate)

Stage 2 (Ikce Wicasa)

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Stage 3: Stage 3: DakotaDakota, , NakotaNakota & & LakotaLakota

The The IkceIkce WicasaWicasa lost lost their ability to their ability to communicate when they communicate when they came out of the cave and came out of the cave and became humans became humans

After some time, they After some time, they developed language and developed language and faced another crisis faced another crisis when their numbers when their numbers became too largebecame too large

3 dialects, the D, N and 3 dialects, the D, N and L, were developed-these L, were developed-these divisions were now ready divisions were now ready for complete separationfor complete separation

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

(Language)

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OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

The dialects helped The dialects helped unify the peopleunify the people

Unification led to Unification led to the formation of the the formation of the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

Unification could not Unification could not have been complete have been complete without the pipe, without the pipe, the dialects and the the dialects and the con- cept of con- cept of WolakotaWolakota

Stage 1 (Pte Oyate)

Stage 2 (Hununpa- Ikce Wicasa)

Stage 3 (3 Dialects)

Stage 4 (Oceti Sakowin)

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The Significance of Stage 3: The Significance of Stage 3: The Development of DialectsThe Development of Dialects

The completion of stage 3 could have evolved similar to other tribes that elected to separate permanently into different entities.

The Oyate chose to create dialects and unify them into one coalition-the idea of the one out of many concept.

In achieving this, the coalition became strong and prosperous

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Background Events Leading to Background Events Leading to UnificationUnification

In order for the Oyate to remain unified three bonding ingredients had to be present: an instrument to bind the people together, lang- uage to address independency but still be part of the whole, and a concept to convey healing and unity.

All three ingredients, amazingly, came together to produce the Oceti Sakowin: the pipe, lang- uage, and Wolakota.

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The Coming of the PipeThe Coming of the Pipe Comes when signs of hard times causes Comes when signs of hard times causes

famine, death, cataclysms and other signs famine, death, cataclysms and other signs that threaten to destroy the nation that threaten to destroy the nation

Comes every seven generations to prepare Comes every seven generations to prepare the people with codes to guide them.the people with codes to guide them.

The buffalo calf women or The buffalo calf women or PtehincalaPtehincala SanwinSanwin is the caretaker and the instructor of the uses is the caretaker and the instructor of the uses of the pipeof the pipe

There are three times when There are three times when PtehincalaPtehincala San-San- winwin appeared-2 recorded and 1 encoded appeared-2 recorded and 1 encoded

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The Coming of The Coming of PtehincalaPtehincala SanwinSanwin and the Pipe and the Pipe

Came to stop the final step of linguistic Came to stop the final step of linguistic separation of the three dialects by introducing separation of the three dialects by introducing ways of ce-menting relationships with use of ways of ce-menting relationships with use of the languagethe language

Prepared the oyate to begin steps in unifying Prepared the oyate to begin steps in unifying the divisions on the verge of separation by the divisions on the verge of separation by bringing instruments to heal, create peace and bringing instruments to heal, create peace and tranquility for the peopletranquility for the people

Establish social and spiritual codes by laying Establish social and spiritual codes by laying the ground work for kin and social behavioral the ground work for kin and social behavioral rules and introducing certain ceremonies to rules and introducing certain ceremonies to strengthen the nation’s spiritual needsstrengthen the nation’s spiritual needs

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The Historical Account of the The Historical Account of the Coming of the PipeComing of the Pipe

Brown Hat Brown Hat ((WapostanWapostan GiGi) or ) or Battiste Good Battiste Good recorded the recorded the coming of the pipecoming of the pipe

He depicted the age He depicted the age of the pipe in of the pipe in cycles-the first cycles-the first beginning in 901 ADbeginning in 901 AD

Courtesy of Bureau of Ethnology Report, Interior Department

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The The PtehincalaPtehincala SanwinSanwin and the and the PipePipe

Bobby Penn drawing

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Use of the Use of the CannunpaCannunpa in Civil in Civil MattersMatters

Smoking of the pipe Smoking of the pipe sends the prayers or sends the prayers or thoughts to the thoughts to the heavensheavens

The pipe is used to seal The pipe is used to seal a pact or agreementa pact or agreement

It is the symbol and It is the symbol and practice of practice of wolakotawolakota

It was instrumental in It was instrumental in the creation of the the creation of the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

Courtesy of V.Douville collection of photography

Typical Southeast multi hole pipe (showing front part with 7 holes for

seven pipe stems)

Pipe prior to the coming of the T shaped pipe

Similar pipe brought by the Calf Woman

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The Literal Meaning of The Literal Meaning of WolakotaWolakota

Wolakota 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.

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The Meaning of The Meaning of OcetiOceti Oceti is translated as a stove or fireplace. This term does not convey anything about fire or flame or a light. It is a contraction of makoce ti or (Unci) Maka Ocaje ti. Unci Maka means Grandmother Earth, Ocaje means name or lineage, ti means to live in an abode. Thus there is an establishment of a matri-lineage, this is tracing lineage from the mother’s side. The established home requires a hearth own- ed by the Unci or the appropriate female. The hearth signifies the autonomy of a home.

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Meaning of Meaning of SakowinSakowinSakowin means all digits of one hand and the thumb and pointing finger of the other hand or seven. Seven is a cardinal number, it is based on the sum of two other cardinal and spiritual numbers, three and four. Seven is a political number that all clans have as a standard, that is all clans have seven extended families, each family has seven members. When a clan reaches seven extended members then the eighth member separates.

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OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin Terminology Terminology1.Mdewakantonwan (Mde, lake; Wakan, spirit;

tonwan, to dwell or live at) Spirit Lake Dwellers

2.Wahpekute (Wahpe, broad leaf/forest; kute,shoot ) Leaf Shooters

3.Wahpetonwan (Wahpe,broad leaf/forest; tonwan, live/ dwell) Forest Dwellers

4.Sisitonwan (Sisi, smell of fish scales; tonwan, to live at or dwell) Fish Scale Dwellers(corrupted to Sisseton)

5.Ihanktonwan (Ihanke, at the end; tonwan, to live at) Dwellers at the End of the Village (corrupted to Yankton)

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Ihantonwanna (Ihanke, at the end; tonwan, to dwell or live at; na, junior status) Little Dwellers at the end village. (Yanktonnai)

Tintantonwan (Tintan, prairie or plains; tonwan, to dwell or live at) Plains Dwellers (Teton is the anglicized version of tintan or titon)

6.

7.

Continued

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The Divisions of the Oceti The Divisions of the Oceti SakowinSakowin

1. Bdewakantonwan..Spirit Lake Dwellers 2. Wahpekute…….…Hunters of the Forest 3. Wahpetonwan……….…Forest Dwellers 4. Sissitonwan…..Boggy Ground Dwellers 5. Ihanktonwan…….………..End Dwellers 6. Ihanktonwanna…..Junior End Dwellers 7. Titonwan………………..Plains Dwellers

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Formation of the Western Formation of the Western OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin or or PetaPeta SakowinSakowin

After the Tintanton or Teton moved away from Minnesota and onto the Plains, these L speakers or Lakota formed their own seven council fires.

Their own seven council fires was based on how the fire was carried from principal band to band. Since they could not carry the hearths that were stationary in a tipi tanka like the Santee had, the fire or embers were carried in a shell and only the parent or lead band of that division possessed it. This mobile hearth was called peta, hence Peta Sakowin.

The fire was a symbol of sovereignty and wherever this makeshift hearth was placed it was home territory.

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Band Terminology of the Band Terminology of the LakotaLakota

1.Hunkpapa (Hunkpa, at the end; pa, the head) Camp at the Horn(s).

2.Itazipcola (Itazipa, bow; cola, without) Without Bows or Sans Arc

3.Mnikowoju (Mni, water; ikanyela, near; plant by the water) Planters by the River

4.Oglala (O, nown prefix; glala, scatter their own) Scatter Their Own

5.Oohenunpa (O, nown prefix; wohan, cook or boil; nunpa, two) Two Boilings or Two Kettle

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ContinuedContinued

6. Sicangu (Sican, thigh; ogu, burnt) Burnt Thigh or Brule.

7. Sihasapa (Siha, soles of the foot; sapa, black) Black Foot.

All of these band or division names were acquired when the Lakota crossed the great Coteau Des Prairie, on route, to the Missouri River. The only exception were two divisions, the Oglala, the Hunkpapa, and possibly the Mnikowoju.

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Origins of the 7 Lakota Origins of the 7 Lakota DivisionsDivisions

The Hunkpapa got their name from their position in the camp circle. They are regarded as the anchor of the Lakota organization and placed at the horn or horns of the camp’s east opening.

The Itazipco were designated as the pipe keepers of the original pipe and because they held the spiritual covenant of the people, they could not handle or make bows, the weapon of death. When they formed their own band, they were unable or unwilling to make bows to defend themselves. Hence, enemy tribes knowing they were without bows, attacked them. (continued)

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ContinuedContinuedAnother version is when a fight broke out among the Sanun, the opposing sides threw down their bows and arrows and attacked each other.

The Mnikowoju received their name from the time when they grew and planted crops. The other divisions scoffed at the idea of a hunter society turned planters or farmers, this was considered women’s work. They discouraged this practice.

The Oglala got their name from an incident when two leaders argued and one threw ashes or dirt in the other’s face. Both leaders and their people separated. Since then they were designated as one who scatters or divides their people.

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ContinuedContinued

The Oohenunpa received their name when they were caught in an early spring blizzard that forced them to stay in one place for more then several days. As a result of this, the band nearly starved to death and saved themselves by discovering a cache of corn that they boiled in two kettles.

The Sihasapa acquired their name when they walk- ed through miles of scorched earth. When they reached the Missouri River, they noticed that the soles of their feet wore through their moccasins and were smudged by the burnt ashes.

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ContinuedContinued

The Sicangu received their name from the time when they were migrating to the Missouri River in 1762. On route to the river, a band called Cokaton-towela or Cokatowela (blue in the middle camp)settled down for the night and were awakened bya prairie fire that swept through their village destroy-their camp and killing many horses. The people sav-ed themselves by jumping in the nearby small lakeand creek. The next morning when they examinedthemselves most of them were burnt severely aboutthe thighs. The other Lakota called them Sicangu.

Wapostan Gi’s portrayal of a chief and wife who were burnt to death-winter count of 1762-83

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The Divisions of the TitonwanThe Divisions of the Titonwan1. Sicangu (burnt thigh or Brule)

2. Oglala (scatter their own)

3. Mnikowoju (planters near the water)

4. Itazipco (no bows or Sans Arc)

5. Oohenunpa (two kettle)

6. Sihasapa (black sole foot)

7. Hunkpapa (camp at the horns)

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LakotaLakota Political Divisions and Political Divisions and UnitsUnits

7 or more 7 or more tiwahetiwahe make up a make up a tiospayetiospaye

7 or more 7 or more tiospayetiospaye make up an ospayemake up an ospaye

7 or more 7 or more ospayeospaye make up an make up an oyateoyate

7 7 oyateoyate make up the make up the

PetaPeta SakowinSakowin, 7 of , 7 of the the LakotaLakota divisions divisions

PRINCIPAL LAKOTA TIOSPAYE/OSPAYE DIVISIONS

SOUTHERN DIVISION

HUNKPAPA - 9 HOHWOJU -- 9 ITAZIPCO -- 7 SIHASAPA -- 6 OOHENUNPA -- 2

OGLALA -- 21 UNITS SICANGU --18

ITOKAGA OYATE TIOSPAYE /OSPAYE

SANUN OYATE TIOSPAYE/OSPAYE

NORTHERN DIVISION

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The Tiwahe: Template for the The Tiwahe: Template for the Oceti Sakowin Camping Oceti Sakowin Camping

ArrangementsArrangements

Water

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Ate or Catku

Tokape

Hepan

Hepi

Catan

Hake

Hakakta

Tiopawife

fireplace

water

wood

tripod tipi poles

rack

pipe

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onnnnnnjjjjj h

3

1

2

4

5

6

7

hearth

Bdewakantonwan

Wahpekute

Wahpetonwan

Sisitonwan

Titonwan

Ihanktonwanna

Ihanktonwan Tiotipi/Tiiokihe

Camp Entrance

Clockwise Flow Of Traffic

Oceti Sakowin Kin (7 Council Oceti Sakowin Kin (7 Council Fires)Fires)

Catku

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The The TipiTipi TankaTanka Robert O. Sweeney Robert O. Sweeney

drew this sketch of a drew this sketch of a TipiTipi TankaTanka (great or big (great or big house) in Minnesotahouse) in Minnesota

These homes were These homes were occupied in the occupied in the summersummer

During the hunt, tipis During the hunt, tipis were usedwere used

In winter heavily In winter heavily barked-domed shape barked-domed shape homes were utilizedhomes were utilized

Courtesy of V.Douville picture collections

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The The TipiTipi TankaTanka as a Socio- as a Socio-Political StructurePolitical Structure

The Great House was The Great House was designed for a clan designed for a clan residenceresidence

The number of The number of families living in this families living in this home were 4 to 7home were 4 to 7

The Lakota term tita-The Lakota term tita-yawaton means town yawaton means town or people of big or people of big houses while the houses while the Santee say tipi tanka Santee say tipi tanka otonwaheotonwahe

7 of these towns made 7 of these towns made up a band or ospayeup a band or ospaye

Courtesy of Seth Easting Paintings from Afton Historical Society Press, Afton, MN

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The Supreme CouncilThe Supreme Council

Met 4 times a year-1Met 4 times a year-1stst meeting was in meeting was in the spring to plan for spring activitiesthe spring to plan for spring activities

22ndnd meeting was in the beginning of meeting was in the beginning of the summer for summer ceremonialsthe summer for summer ceremonials

33rdrd meeting was in the fall for the meeting was in the fall for the final hunt and warfinal hunt and war

44thth meeting was to prepare for going meeting was to prepare for going into winter quartersinto winter quarters

(Meetings were also about political affairs)

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Government of the Oceti Government of the Oceti SakowinSakowin

7 Clans or Wicowe-Tribal Council

7 Wakicun-Councilors (Clan Representatives)

7 Itancan/Naca

Akicita

Oyate (people)

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Historical Clues of the Rise and Historical Clues of the Rise and the Fall of the the Fall of the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin

Oral tradition has proved the existence of the 7 Council Places or Fires, but what about scientific studies? Has history yielded any clues?

The answer to this is yes. The existence and abund- ant documentation of super organizations formed by the indigenous peoples of the United States is proof enough to point to the Lakota as having one.

Such organizations as the Powatan, Muskogee, Iroqu- ois and others were formed similarly to the Lakota. The most famous is the Iroquois.

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ContinuedContinuedLakota oral tradition has demonstrated that the Oceti Sakowin formed as a necessity to preserve unity for social reasons, but circumstances in the east wood-lands produced a need to organize for political rea- sons. Organizations like the Iroquois formed to address the political situation that was rapidly unfold-ing due to the coming of the non Indians and the need to secure and defend their territory. This com-ing of the non Indians spawned intertribal warfare of gigantic proportions due to securing hunting grounds to initially satisfy the huge trade of beaver pelts lusted by the colonial powers.

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ContinuedContinued

Thus came the rise of the Oceti Sakowin, born out of the premonition of the coming of something dark and sinister-the coming of the Wasicun.

This organization had strong beginnings but began to wane when they left the east woodland region and found a suitable place, far from the dangers in the east. By the time the Oceti Sakowin people arrived in Minnesota, this structure began to become less cohe-sive. The solid formation of three groups, the dialects and their cultural eco-zone preferences, provided the ungluing of the Oceti Sakowin.

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ContinuedContinued

The final straw was the western Oceti Sakowin push to return to the Black Hills and the great war between its eastern members and the Pillager Ojibwa.

The movement of the Lakota and Yankton from Minnesota to the Missouri and across to the great plains provided the end of the Oceti Sakowin as an effective political unit. Today it still survives as an important link to the past with a sense of unity and kinship.

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Origins of theOrigins of the Oceti Sakowin Oceti Sakowin

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Lakota Movements to the Lakota Movements to the PlainsPlains Lakota division Lakota division

moves to the plains-moves to the plains-1700-18251700-1825

The Yankton division The Yankton division moves to the Missouri moves to the Missouri River-1700-1804River-1700-1804

The Santee move The Santee move from Mille Lac to from Mille Lac to Minnesota River-Minnesota River-1700-18251700-1825

Movements from Movements from Minnesota ends the Minnesota ends the Oceti Sakowin cohe-Oceti Sakowin cohe-siveness siveness

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Lakota Movement to the PlainsLakota Movement to the Plains

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SAHIYELA

SAHIYELA

Oceti SakowinOceti Sakowin Territory Territory

8

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Rosebud

Pine Ridge

Cheyenne River

Standing Rock

Lower Brule

Crow Creek

Yankton

Santee

Flandreau

Lower Council

Prairie Island

Upper Council

Shakopee

Sisseton-Wahpeton

Spirit LakeFort Peck

Montana Minnesota

Wyoming

Nebraska

Iowa

North Dakota

S.D.

SaskachewanManitoba

Wood Mountain

Wahpeton

Moose Woods

Standing Buffalo

Carry the KettleOcean Man

Pheasant’s Rump

Dakota Plains

Bird Tail

Sioux Valley

Pipe Stone

Dakota Tipi

Distribution of the Oceti Sakowin

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HeceglaHecegla