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Links:
- Lakota Celestial Imagery: Spirit and Sky
The purpose of this paper by Dr. Mark Hollabaugh, is to explore the oft neglected celestial dimension of Sioux culture and belief. Hollabaugh explains that since he is focusing on nineteenth century Lakota (Sioux) celestial thought, his primary source is the most readily available for that period, namely, the journals of Dr. James Walker, who served on the Pine Ridge Reservation from 1896 to 1914. His journals are of great importance because they record the teachings of the secret world of the Holy Men (wicasa wakan) into which he was initiated. Were it not for these journals, probably most of these teachings would have been lost forever. Hollabaugh discusses various celestial objects, such as comets, meteor showers, the Sun and Moon, and goes on to argue that these cannot be properly understood in Lakota culture apart from the concept of wakan. A stimulating paper, well written, with a good bibliography.
- Lakota na Dakota Wowapi Oti Kin (Lakota Dakota Information page)
This is a joint project by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of Creighton University, Omaha, and Martin Broken Leg of Augustana College, Sioux Falls. The site provides extensive and very well organised material on the Lakota tradition. It is organised around the following themes: bibliographic resources, electronic texts, demography, legal concerns, history, treaties, official internet sites, education, native language, cultural centers/museums, music and others.
- The Dakota at Mille Lacs
'A comparative analysis of the archaeology, historical sources, and oral traditions from the early contact period', by Kevin L. Callahan of the department of anthropology, at the University of Minnesota. The first contacts between the French and the Dakota were in the late 17th century. Callahan provides an overview of Dakota society at this time, which makes brief reference to beliefs, and describes the character of French-Dakota interactions.
- The Sun Dance
Frederick Schwatka, "The Sun-Dance of the Sioux", Century Magazine 39 (1889-1890). This article is of historic interest. The author explains that he was permitted to view the Sun Dance only thanks to his friendship with Chief Spotted Wolf and Standing Elk, the "head warrior". He describes the selection & preparation of the Sun Dance pole and other preparations, and finally the piercing of the dancers with a "skewer of bone", which was itself then attached to the Sun Dance pole with a "long skin rope". Whilst clearly fascinated with the Dance, Schwatka viewed it in terms of "…those barbarous rites and ceremonies of cruelty and self-torture that have placed the sun-dance of the Sioux on a level with the barbarisms of any of the far more famed devotees of Juggernaut." ["Juggernaut" derives from a name of Krishna, "Juggernath," a festival to whom is held yearly at Puri, Orissa, in India. The violence attributed to it historically, however, is erroneous. For the etymology of 'Juggernaut' see Etymology.]
- The Sun Dance
John G. Neihardt Internet Project: The Sun Dance. A brief, but informative account of the dance, including Black Elk's explanation of its origin.
See also The Neihardt Project Home Page. Out of Neihardt's interviews with Oglala Holy Man Black Elk, came the now famous book, Black Elk Speaks, first published in 1932. This website reflects these and other interviews with Black Elk, including those between the latter and Joseph Epes Brown, who wrote The Sacred Pipe. Discussions on Neihardt's life & work, of Black Elk, the sweat (or purification) lodge, vision quest, and other themes may be accessed here. Also, the wider impact of Black Elk Speaks, not least upon contemporary young Indians, is discussed by Vine Deloria, Jr.; this same discussion also providing the introduction to the 1979 edition of the book. See the Introduction to Black Elk Speaks by Vine Deloria.
The entire text of Black Elk Speaks is now available as part of the University of Nebraska's 'Black Elk's World', at Black Elk Speaks, and includes the Vine Deloria introduction.
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