lakota thought and philosophy
TRANSCRIPT
Lakota Thought and Philosophy: A Lakota Thought and Philosophy: A Universal ViewUniversal View
By Victor Douville
2
Lakota Thought and Philosophy: a Universal ViewBy
Victor Douville
Copyright © 2007 by Victor Douville Published by Sinte Gleska University
3
Lakota Thought and PhilsophyLakota Thought and PhilsophyThe Lakota world view is complex and not completely under- stood because it embraces closeness to nature, the spiritual realm and kinship to all life forms; and because the people truly believe in this, they walk a fine line between what is above and what is below.
The Lakota children, from the time they deliver the first kick in the womb, are reared and taught morals and behavior through symbols and rituals that best convey the philosophy of the nation. These symbols and rituals show how the people are close to nature, the spiritual realm and kinship to all life forms. This prepares the children and the people to begin living in harmony with what is above and what is below.
4
ContentsContents• The Circle, Concept & Applications-Slide 5-17• The Lakota Tipi-Slides 18-21• Wanagi Tacanku-Slides 22-23• Topa, the Cardinal Number-Slides 24-34• The Number Seven Concepts-Slides 35-40• Cinska Sinte Yukan (the Big Dipper)-Slides 41-44• Concept of Wakan Tanka & Manifestations-Slides 45-50• Mitakuye Oyasin-Slides 51& 52 • The Pipe, Concept of the Cannunpa-Slides 53-55• The Protocol of the Ceremonies & -Slides 56-57• The Medicine Man - Slides 58 & 59• Wolakota, & Concept of Wolakota-Slides 60-62• Reflection of Lakota Thought and Philosophy-Slide 63• Slide Credits-Slide 65
5
The CircleThe Circle
• The circle has no beginning or ending• It represents immortality and infinity• It represents security because everyone or
anything in a circle is protected • The system of counting is in cycles or in
circles• The system of pictograph writing involves
the use of spirals and circles• Lakota logic is circular as opposed to linear
6
Concept of the CircleConcept of the Circle
• The Universe is round• Everything comes in
cycles or stages• All heavenly bodies
are basically circular• The earth is round• All life forms have
round bodies and limbs
• Camps are circular
7
SitomniSitomni KinKin (the World) (the World)
• It means the world is round• The world is called Unci
Maka (grandmother earth)• Also called Keya Wita (Turtle
Island) because the turtle helped create the continents by bringing up soil from the bottom of the ocean
• A sand turtle has 13 block markings on its shell-they match the major 12 tectonic plates plus minor ones that make up the earth’s crust
Sitomni is envisioned as containing a turtle floating on the ocean World Globe courtesy of
Jim Sanovia
8
Application of a Circle to a CampApplication of a Circle to a Camp
• A Sicangu camp circle• The Sicangu entered
the reservation with 18-21 bands that formed camp circles
• Membership to a tribe required a place in the circle
• The circle protected its members
SICANGU CAMP CIRCLE
(1870’S-Early 1900’s) Mniskuya K ic ’un K iyuksa/Tiglabu Wablenica Waceunpa
Hiha K anhanhan Win
Wagluhe K ak’ega
Isanti
CATK U CAMP ENTRANCE Sicanguhca TIOK IHE
Hinhansun- Wagmiza wapa/Sunkaha/ Y uha
Nap’in FLOW OF TRAFFIC Okaga Wicasa Walega Un
Wohan/Wahna Oohenunpa
Oglala Ic icaga
Iyeska Cinca Wajaje T iocesli *The Sicangu never camped together as a whole, until the reservation times.
9
Application of the Circle to the Application of the Circle to the TipiTipi (Interior)(Interior)
Hepi (3th born)
Tripods Tawicu (Wife)
Tokape Catan (4th born) (1st Born Son)
Altar Water Water Bag Catku (Ate) Tiopa
(Head (door) of Fire
House 1 Wood Path
Tipi Poles Left to Right Hake (5th born) Fireplace Hepan (2nd born) Hakakta (last born)
1
2 4
5
6
3 7
10
Application of Circle to the Application of Circle to the OcetiOceti SakowinSakowin
onnnnnnjjjjj h
3
1
2
4
5
6
7
hearth
Bdewakantonwan
Wahpekute
Wahpetonwan
Sisitonwan
Titonwan
Ihanktonwanna
Ihanktonwan T iotipi/Tiiokihe
Camp Entrance
Clockwise Flow Of Traffic
• Seven Council Fires• Seven entities form
smaller circles within• Camp shows unity and
harmony• Oceti Sakowin positions
are patterned after the household
Catku
11
Application of a Circle to the Red Application of a Circle to the Red Race TrackRace Track
• He Sapa (Black Hills) sits on a red rim called the Race Track
• Creation of this red race track is based on a story about a great race bet-ween the “two leggeds and the four leggeds”
• As they raced, the ground shook and caused the up-heaval of the center and the rim was dyed by the red color of blood made by the feet, hooves and paws of the racers
Black Hills image courtesy of Jim Sanovia
12
Application of the Concept of the Application of the Concept of the Circle to the Celestial Race TrackCircle to the Celestial Race Track
• Red Race Track Constellation
• Made up of Auriga B, Capella, Pleides, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux and Castor
• Represents the Red Rim that surrounds the Black HIlls
13
Application of a Circle: Cosmic Application of a Circle: Cosmic Birth of a NationBirth of a Nation
• Red Circle represents a cave in the Black Hills called Wasun Niye (Wind Cave)
• The embryo emerging from the cave is Tokahe (first man)
• The Red Circle can also be a womb
14
Application of Circle to a Genesis Application of Circle to a Genesis CaveCave
• Wasun Wiconiye is a genesis cave that re-presents a circle
• This cave is located in the southern Black Hills
• This is the cave from which Tokahe, the first man-leader, emerged from the cave to popu- late the earth
15
Application of a Circle to a Application of a Circle to a Medicine HoopMedicine Hoop
• A Cangleska• The hoop represents the
hoop of the uni- verse that binds all life forms together in a symbiotic relationship
• The hoop can be used to create an hunka
• A hoop can be used as a device for playing games
16
16
The Application of a Circle: the The Application of a Circle: the Winter CountWinter Count
• Waniyetu Owapi- winter count (tiospaye biography)
• The entries or counts spiral out counter clock- wise, from the center-all winter counts originally were done this way
• After 1877, winter counts were no longer designed in a spiral pattern
• The entries are significant events based on one event per year
• Winter counts were used to determine one’s age
The Lone Dog Winter Count
The entries spiral out forming a circle
17
Application of Circle to Modern Application of Circle to Modern Concepts of a HoopConcepts of a Hoop
• It symbolizes how the Pte Oyate came out of Wind Cave-symbolizes spirituality
• The four colors stands for the four directions
• The four spokes stands for the four winds
• The number 4 stands for the universe-everything in the universe consists of 4 parts
• The circle connects every- thing together, everything is round and patterned from this
CANGLESK A (MEDICINE WHEEL)
K I IY ANK A OCANK U
CANGLESK A
18
Origins of the Lakota Origins of the Lakota TipiTipiWhen the Lakota changed to a plains lifestyle, they also altered the type of home that accommodated their new lifestyle. The type of home they chose to make came from their children. Tradition says, some children were playing with Cottonwood leafs that were rolled up and tapered at one to represent a dwelling. These conical dwellings were formed into little camp circles. Elders noticed this and design- ed their new homes the same way. They were called tipi pestola (sharp pointed dwellings).
Cottonwood leaf has the same layout
design of a tipi
19
Wankatuya Wakan, Kuta Wakan• Special above, special
below• Tripod of the tipi divides
the secular world from the spiritual world
• The division begins where the smoke leaves the tipi
• The tripod is an outline of a star and the tipi represents a star
Faces to the east
Faces to the south
Faces to the North
Circumference of tipi is divided into 3 equal parts distributing pressure points evenly
20
The Circular-Exterior of The Circular-Exterior of TipiTipi• Called a tipi pestola
(pointed abode) as opposed to a wigwam (dome shaped)
• Shaped like a cone with an invisible vortex similar to an hour glass -inferring “what is special above is equally special below?”
• A star is depicted as a tipi in the sky
Mirrors the Tipi
Anderson Photo of High Hawk’s painted tipi, courtesy of Lakota
Studies photo collection
21
The Lakota TipiThe Lakota Tipi• It’s vortex creates a bottleneck
to choke off escape of heat • In winter, heat is kept down
and cold air is circulated upward from the inner liners that provide an upward draft
• Fireplace is in front of the tipi center to maximize upward draft for the smoke
• The tipi is sloping in the front to create a drag for the smoke to escape
• back side of tipi is straight up to streamline the fierce NW wind
Plumbline-center of
tipi
Tipi can be set up and taken down in less than 15 minutes
Liners help create
upward draft for cold air to escape
Rocks anchor against heavy winds
.
.
Flaps
In the hot summers the bottoms are rolled up
22
WanagiWanagi TacankuTacanku
The Lakota have always been fascinated by the night sky with all of the stars, particularly the Milky Way. They deduced from the concept of “what is special above- is special below” that the Milky way is sacrosanct to them. They concluded that this white band that circulated above them was really the gathering of kin spirits who departed the earth when their secular life expired. Thus they made this connection of earth to the white band of stars that circled above and called them Wanagi Tacanku (Spirit Trail).
23
Concept of The Concept of The WanagiWanagi TacankuTacanku • Milky Way is circular and spiral
shaped and called Wanagi Tacanku (ghost trail)-its center contains an active Black Hole
• This is depicted as large encampments of camp fires of deceased kinfolk
• Each star is a tipi that is hour glass shaped
• Some stars are grouped in sets of fours or sevens
Side view of the Milky Way Galaxy
Courtesy Illustration from Wikimedia, the Free Encyclopedia
24
TopaTopa, the Cardinal Number, the Cardinal Number
The number four has a special meaning to the Lakota people. Almost all creation comes in fours so human action and practice come in fours. In ceremonies, the pipe is extended three times and when extended the fourth, the recipi-ent has to decide to accept it or decline. The pipe is the instrument to seal a pact or a deal so if it is offered four times, then it gives the decid-er three opportunities to think about it and that is enough time to decide what to do when the fourth time comes around.
25
Tobtob Kin Tobtob Kin ConceptConcept
• The set of fours• Everything in the universe
consists of four parts: the 4 stages of life, the 4 seasons, the 4 directions, the 4 parts of the body, the 4 parts of the plant, the 4 winds, 4 moon phases and more
26
Four Social UnitsFour Social Units• Tiwahe (household) is the
Smallest Unit-The Ate is the head
• Tiospaye (extended family) is the next smallest-The Naca is the head
• Ospaye (band) is the second largest unit-Itancan is head
• Oyate (tribe-nation) is the largest unit- The Wicasa Yatapika is the nominal head of this unit
Oyate
Ospaye
Tiospaye
Tiwahe
27
Four Directions and Four WindsFour Directions and Four Winds
• West is called Wiyoh-peyata its color is Blue
• Waziyata is called north, its color is Red
• Wiyohiyanpata is called east, its color is Yellow
• Itokagata is called south, its color is White
NORTH
EA
ST
SOUTH
WE
ST
Caution! Colors chosen by a medicine man or a practitioner of the culture may be different.
4 Winds
28
Four Parts of the BodyFour Parts of the Body
• 4 parts of the human-head, neck, torso and hip
• 4 limbs• 4 fingers• 4 toes• 2 thumbs plus 2 big
toes equals 4
29
Four Parts of a PlantFour Parts of a Plant
• Flower or leaf stalk/ branch
• Leaf or flower• Stem/trunk• Root• All natural things, like
the plants, that grow have power
• Man made things have no power
Root
StemBranch
Leaf
30
Four Kinds of PlantsFour Kinds of Plants
• Flower plants• Fruit plants• Vegetable plants• Hard/Soft shell plants
Shell plants
Flower plants
Contemporary Plants
Courtesy of Plant illustrations from EnchantedLearning. com
Pascal Flower-Courtesy of Lakota Studies Plant slide
collections
Vegetable Plants
Fruit Plants
31
Four Cardinal Phases of the Four Cardinal Phases of the HanwiHanwi
• New Moon
• ¼ Moon (Crescent Waxing)
• ½ Moon(1st Quarter)
• Full Moon
Wit’e (New Moon)
Wilecala (Crescent) Wiokiseya (1st Quarter)
Wimima (Full Moon)
32
TobtobTobtob KinKin: : HanwiHanwi Phases Phases
• 1. Wit’e –New Moon• 2. Wilecala-Waxing Crescent • 3. Wiokiseya- 1st Quarter• 4. Wimimakanyela-Waxing Gibbous• 5. Wimima- Full Moon• 6. Wiyaspapi-Waning Gibbous• 7. Wimakatanyan-Last Quarter• 8. Wit’inkta Kanyela-Waning Crescent
Wilecala
Wimima
Wimimakanyela
Wiokiseya
Wit’e
Wiyaspapi
WimakatanyanWit’inktaKanyela
1st Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Crescent
Last Quarter
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
Waning G.
Wi
*
*Upper half of the 4 sets followed by lower 4 sets
Unci Maka
**Moon’s orbit
**Moon’s orbit is elliptical and unbalanced
33
Significance of Four Sets of SevensSignificance of Four Sets of Sevens
• 4 sets of sevens make up a month
• 28 days make up a month
• 13 new moons make up a year
• 13 x 28 = 364 + 1.2 = 365.2 (a true year)
• 364 divided by 4 = 91• 1.2 divided by 4 =.3• The power of 4 is
significant
1
234
56 7 8 91
0 11 1
213141516
1718
19
20
21
2223
24
25
26
27
28
Maka Stuta Wi (ground Thaw Moon) (The New Year)
34
The Four Stages of LifeThe Four Stages of Life
• Birth and Infancy range from new born to over ten years old
• Adolescence is over ten to eighteen
• Adulthood is over eighteen to the 60’s
• Old age occurs after the 60’s
Infancy
Adolescence
Adulthood
Old Age
35
SakowinSakowin (Seven), the Cardinal (Seven), the Cardinal NumberNumber
According to the Lakota, the number seven is made up of two numbering systems, a cardin-al and a social number. Four is the cardinal number and three is a social number, four is ceremonial and three refers to the three dialects. Thus seven is a combination of spiritual and secular numbers. This ties seven to the above and below concept that unites the spiritual world with the secular world, this makes it especially powerful.
36
Significance of Seven: Life CyclesSignificance of Seven: Life Cycles
• Life/Fetus- Hoksinagi• Birth/Newborn-Hoksicala• Infancy- Wakanyeja• *Adolescence- Wikoskal-
aka• *Adulthood- Winyan• *Old age- Winuhcala• Death- Wicont’a
Hoksicala
Wakanyeja
Koskalaka
Wicasa
Wicahcala
Wicont’a
Hoksinagi
*Female Cycles of LifeMale Cycles of Life
37
Number Seven (Number Seven (SakowinSakowin))
• Five digits on left hand-thumb and four fingers plus thumb and index finger of right hand
• Combination of four and three
• Four is the cardinal number and three is the three dialects of the nation
Sakowin-seven
38
Tiwahe (Family of 7)
Tiospaye (7 Tiwahe)
Ospaye (7 Tiospaye)
Oyate (7 Ospaye)
Oceti Sakowin:The Power of SevenOceti Sakowin:The Power of Seven
39
Significance of Seven: the Significance of Seven: the DirectionsDirections
• Extended directions• 4 cardinal directions-
collateral• 2 lineal directions-up
and down• 1 center or focal
point-the heart1-West Wiyohpeyata
2-North Waziyata
3-East Wiyohiyanpata
7-Center Cantetakiya
4-South Itokagata
5-Upward Wankatuya
6-Downward Kutakiya
1
2
3
4
5
6
40
Seven Parts of Time
• 1. Dawn-Anpo• 2. Morning- Anpa• 3. Noon- Wicoka• 4. Afternoon- Wicoka
Sam Hiyeya• 5. Evening- Htayetu• 6. Dusk- Htaotanisni• 7. Night- Hanhepi
Anpo
Anpa
Wicoka
Wicoka Sam Hiyeya
Htayetu
Htaotanisni
Hanhepi
½
Horizon
Sun
41
Cinska Sinte YukanCinska Sinte Yukan(Big Dipper)(Big Dipper)The Big Dipper is another fixture in the night skies that hold a special meaning for the Lakota, it cor-responds to seven, a special Lakota number. The prominence of this group of stars takes place during the Vernal Equinox and when the Wanagi Tacanku approaches it. Moreover this touches off the first ceremony known to the Lakota people called the Wasigla (Mourning) rites. The upside down position of the Cinska Sinte Yukan(Big Dipper) once coincided with the heli-acal rise of the first point of Aries or spring in 1,300 BC. This may indicate how old the Wasigla rite, along with the pipe, and the concept of the 7 Council Fires are.
42
WetuB
loke
tu
Ptanyetu
Wan
iyet
u
The Big Dipper and the SeasonsThe Big Dipper and the Seasons• Positions of the Big
Dipper determine the seasons
• Wetu is spring time• Bloketu is summer• Ptanyetu is fall• Waniyetu is winter
Wetu comes from Wi (sun) and yetu (time of) time of the sun
Bloketu comes from bloka (male-bull) and yetu (time of) (time of the male)
Ptanyetu comes from ptan(decaying vegetation) and yetu (time of the decaying vegetation)
Waniyetu comes from wa (snow) ni (breath) and yetu) time of the snow breath
Wetu and Ptanyetu are equinox seasons (equal days and nights)
Bloketu and Waniyetu are solstice seasons (longer daylight and shorter daylight)
43
The Four Titles of the Big DipperThe Four Titles of the Big Dipper
• Is a burial motif for a wasigla rite, during the spring-its position is up-side down
• Is a clan made up of seven council fires
• Is a paddle to carry embers for sweat rite
• Is a water carrier to pour on rocks for the Oinikaga (sweat rite)
• Is a pipe for ceremonies
Wicakiyuhapi (body stretcher) Oceti Sakowin (7 Council Fires) Cinska Sinte Yukan (dipper) Cansasa Ipusye (tobacco mix)
Titonwan
Ihanktonwanna
Ihanktonwan
Sissitonwan
Wahpetonwan
Wahpekute
Mdewakantonwan
44
The Legend of the Big DipperThe Legend of the Big Dipper• Tonwin, a human, married
North Star who took her to live in the sky realm
• When she plucked a tinpsila (turnip) the world came in view through a hole
• She became homesick and braided lots of tinpsila to-gether to help her descend to the earth
• As she descended, the tin-psila rope broke and she, impregnated, fell to earth
• The impact killed her but her son survived and became Star Boy, the culture hero of the people
North Star slumped in deep grief for the loss of his wife and froze in a kneel-ing position never to move
Tonwin means birth woman, she is the patron of midwives-midwives are usually aunts, hence this term means aunt
Scientists have detected evid-ence of a black hole in the mid-dle of the bowl
When a child is conceived, its soul comes out of a hole in the bowl of the Big Dipper
Owanjila Najin (Stands Still)
45
WakanWakan TankaTankaThe term Wakan is controversially translated as sacred in an all embracing context. It is in a certain context that this term can mean sacred but it cannot be applied to everything because everything would be sacred. Hence, this term means something else, other than wakan, if it is applied to everything. A case in point is the term wakankan s’a (a liar). Wakankan literally means double sacred, if the term is translated as sacred. Christian interpretation of wakan has stubborn- ly retained the meaning to be sacred and it has persisted to this day.
46
Concept of Concept of WakanWakan TankaTanka
• It means everything that exists above, below and collaterally or everything in the universe, including the universe
• All life form that includes what the wasicun call inanimate objects are wakan
• Wakan Tanka is made up of the colors of the rainbow or is a prism from which all color emanate
White is unique because it has no color and all who possess this color are unique
47
Manifestations of Manifestations of WakanWakan TankaTanka• Prominent fixtures in
the sky and life forms on earth are embodi-ments of Wakan Tanka
• The Lakota pay hom- age to a minimum of sixteen of these mani- festations
• These 16 consists of 4 sets or tobtob kin
Wakan Tanka Is known by 4 Titles
4 Superior Deities
4 Associate Deities
4 Kindred Deities
4 Deities-Like16
48
The Concept of The Concept of TobtobTobtob KinKin and the and the One Out of ManyOne Out of Many
• The sets of four can lead to infinity but are one called Taku Skanskan or Wakan Tanka
• One out of many• Many out of one
Tu
nka
sila
Nagi Tanka
Waicah
ye
Itancan
1
16
2
3
4 5 6
7
8
9
10
11
121314
15
Titles of Wakan Tanka
16 Manifestations of Wakan Tanka
49
Sixteen Manifestations of Sixteen Manifestations of WakanWakan TankaTanka
TITLES OF WAKAN TANKA
Tunkasila Nagi Tanka Waicahye Itancan/Naca ( (Chief) (Great Spirit) (Creator) (Executive)
Superior Inyan (rock) Maka (earth) Skan (sky) Wi (sun) Associates Hanwi (moon) Tate (wind) Hopeca (beautiful
one)Wakinyan(Tbird) Kindreds Tatanka (bison) Mato (bear) Tate Topa (4
Winds) *Wamniomni Wakanlapi Nagi (spirit) Wanagi (ghost) Nagila (spirit-
like) Sicun (potency)*(Whirlwind)
SIXTEEN MANIFESTATIONS OF WAKAN TANKA
INYAN
MAKA
SKANWI HANWI
TATE
HOPECA
WAKINYAN
TATANKA
MATO
TATE TOPANAGI WAMNIOMNI
WANAGI
NAGILA
SICUN
NAGI TANKA
TUNKASILA WAICAHYE
ITANCAN/NACA
INITIPI AND THE MANIFESTATIONSINITIPI AND THE MANIFESTATIONS
W
N
E
S
Black
Red
Yellow
White
fire
pit
SUPERIOR (WANKATUYA)
ASSOCIATES (KOLAPI)
KINDREDS (TITAKUYEPI)
SPIRITLIKE (WAKANLAPI)
51
Other Manifestations
52
The Alteration of The Alteration of MitakuyeMitakuye OyasinOyasin
This term is an ancient one, it goes back to the time when humans were classified with animals that eventually lead to the separation of the mammals from the main stem of other life forms. The elders of the tribe recognized this because of the many similarities of all life forms. They concluded that we are all related and not only are we related, we are closely linked in a symbiotic relationship. This familial circle of life ties the Lakota closer to all life forms. The term Mitakuye (my relatives) Oyas’in (from Oyate-nation/life form and s’in- everyone) means all my relatives.
53
Concept of Concept of MitakuyeMitakuye OyasinOyasin
• All my relations• Everything above• Everything below• Everything between
or collaterally
54
Before the Coming of the PipeBefore the Coming of the PipeBefore the pipe came to the Lakota, they exper-ienced hardships. These hardships were based on the splitting effect of the nation that began to result in the creation of divisions within. The tribe tried to bring these factions together by their ancient practice of smoking a pipe as a way of bringing the people together. This worked in the beginning but was not productive. The problem was the pipe itself, it consisted of one bowl with seven outlets for the stems. In order to smoke all had to be together to smoke it. The tribe was too large to continue this practice. What was needed was seven pipes for seven groups.
55
The Concept of Cannunpa Kin• The Pipe• Pipe rite is always performed
in all of the ceremonies• The main purpose of the pipe
is to invoke all of the directions and all life forms, residing in these directions
• It is the bridge between the spiritual world and the natural world via the smoke
56
The Coming of the PipeThe Coming of the Pipe
• It comes when hard times come to the tribe
• The White Buffalo Calf Women brought the pipe and the Woope (laws) to the people
• She brought rites and ceremonies to the Lakota
Bobby Penn drawing
57
The Protocol of the CeremoniesThe Protocol of the CeremoniesThe Lakota have many ceremonies, but in the beginning of their cultural development they had few. As the tribe developed the ceremonies in-creased. Three rites were initially performed. The first ceremony known to the people was the wasigla (mourning) ceremony. This was not only logical but archaeologically sound. Burial sites go back thousands of years. The 2nd and 3rd ceremony were the Hanbleceyapi (vision quest) and Wiwang Wacipi (Sun Dance). The elders say that ancient sacrificial rites were done in an isolated area where one was pierced and sat alone for days to acquire a vision.
58
The CeremoniesThe Ceremonies
• Cannunpapi………………...(pipe) Ceremony• Cincaton Okihipi…….....(puberty age) Rites• Hanbleceyapi……………….…(vision quest)• Hunka Kagapi……………(making a relative)• Inikagapi………………….(sweat ceremony)• Kiciyuzapi……………………(marriage) Rites• Lowanpi……………(sing for a cure or quest)• Ocastonpi.............................(name giving)• Wasiglapi…...............(mourning ceremony) • Wiwanyank Wacipi…………....(sun dance)
59
The Medicine Man: Past and PresentThe Medicine Man: Past and Present
Medicine men played a large role in the lives of the people. They were duly noted as iyeska or intercessors that interpret the Lakota ceremon-ial practices. The term means white speakers or truth sayers who interpret the will of the uni-versal controllers. The Medicine men became healers through a vision that revealed them to be medicine men. Sometimes they became medicine men through a hereditary process that required a kin to give his sicun or power to his son or grandson. Today, this method is widely followed to preserve the system.
60
The The WapiyaWapiya WicasaWicasa: The : The IeskaIeska
• The Medicine Man• They can be healers,
holy men or specialize in herbs for cure
• Medicine man is tran-slated as Pejuta Wica-sa, a healer is translat-ed as Wapiya Wicasa, a holy man is translated as Wicasa Wakan
61
WolakotaWolakotaWolakota 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.
62
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.
63
Concept of Concept of WolakotaWolakota
• Means peace• A state of harmonious
relationship among people who have come together to achieve a common goal based on compassion, mutuality, and generosity
• It creates friendships & pacts
• It is a way of life
The Cannunpa: The Symbol of
Wolakota
64
Reflection of Lakota Thought and Reflection of Lakota Thought and PhilosophyPhilosophy
Lakota world view prepared the people to live a well balanced life and this balanced lifestyle was reflected in how the land was cared for, the land was in pristine order when the wasicun acquired it.
Today, the land and the environment is nearing the toler- ance point because it is overworked, depleted and in a great need to be revitalized. This is being realized by the wasicun and they are looking for alternatives to save the land and the environment. They are finally realizing that their alternatives rest on the foundations of what the Lakota and other indigenous people believed in and how they viewed the thought and philosophy process that brought harmony to the order of the world and the universe.
65
HeceglaHecegla
66
Slide Credits
• All slides and graphics were created by Victor Douville, except for some photo collections and drawings that were bought or donated anonymously and those that were duly cited as a courtesy.