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The Lakota are often referred to as the “Sioux,” but that is not their true name. “Sioux” is derived from a Chipewa word that means “enemy” or “cutthroat.” Lakota, what they call themselves means “people together.” They also refer to themselves as the Seven Council Fires. This name comes from the seven divisions of the Nation: Mdwakanton, Wahpeton, Wahpekute, Sisseton, Yankton, Yanktonai, and Teton. The Tetons, being the largest of the Lakota are also broken down into seven more “sub-divisions:” the Oglala, Hunkpapa, Mneconjou, Oohenupa, Sicanjou, Itazipacola, and Sihasapa.
They also have three different dialects: the western dialect of Lakota, the middle dialect of Nakota, and the eastern dialect of Dakota. Prior to reservation time period, the People Together led a nomadic lifestyle on the Great Northern Plains from as for north as southern Canada to northern Colorado and Kansas. The Lakota's dependency on Buffalo required living on the move, migrating with the buffalo herds.
The buffalo, or tatanka, was the main source of sustenance for the Lakota Nation as well as other Plains Nations. The buffalo provided food, clothing, shelter, tools, and many other objects used in everyday life. The buffalo skull is used to this day as an alter. The buffalo was and is held in a very high regard and is considered sacred.
Prior to European arrival, buffalo were hunted on foot. There were horses on this continent at one time, but they were not given a chance to evolve to the horses we know today since they became extinct, probably from being hunted out. The first horses that came back to this continent were brought by the Spaniards. Herds may have been loosed and eventually became wild. The first tribes to capture and tame these horses were the Comanche of Texas, and eventually the Lakota took up horsemanship.
To the Lakota, the horse became a vital friend that helped with moving camp, and had made the buffalo hunt a lot easier. The horse had also played a major role in warfare. In Lakota, the horse is called Sunka Wakan, sacred dog, or holy dog.
Prior to European arrival, warfare was much different than other Lakota wars that had been fought. War was never fought over political objectives, money, or power to control. Warfare was considered a rough "game" in which killing an enemy was not as predominant as "counting coup." Counting coup meant rushing up to an enemy and simply touching him with your hand of a stick. In essence you were stating "I could have killed you, but I didn’t, and you couldn't stop me." This would bring the highest war honor to you and shame to the warrior that was "touched." European warfare was new to us, especially since the phrase "body count" was not in our vocabulary.
Upon earning war horses on great achievements, a warrior would receive an eagle feather. An Eagle feather is considered to be approximatly the same level as a congressional medal of honor, only it would be treated in a more sacred manner, since the eagle is the spirit closest to the creator.
In the Lakota way, or Lakota religious practices, we worship one god or creator. The Creator is called Wakan Tanka, Great Spirit, or Great Mystery. We also refer to him as Tunkasila or grandfather. Everything else in life also has a spirit or being. All animals have spirit, all the elements, Mother Earth (Ina Maka,) the stars, the trees, everything animate as well as inanimate in the natural world.