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he circle appears over T and over in the culture of the Lakota . They believe that life is a sacred circle in which all things are connected—nature, animals, and humans. Sometimes Lakota Sioux refer to the circle as the Sacred Hoop. When Lakota Sioux perform the hoop dance they are doing the dance of life, seeking harmony and balance in all things. The Lakota Sioux: A Rich History Columbus made a mistake when he Welcome to Cuesheet, Native once lived throughout what is now the . In called the natives one of a series of 1492, when Columbus arrived in the Americas, there were about two million Native Americans living in 300 tribes. of North America performance guides “los Indios.” He published by the According to scientists, the ancestors of Native Americans believed that by Education Department came to North America from Siberia at least 20,000 sailing west from of the John F. Kennedy ye ars ago. During the Ice Age, the sea level dropped, causing a land Europe far enough Center for the bridge to appear at the Bering Strait. Hunting buffalo and woolly he would arrive Performing Arts, mammoth, they crossed the bridge. Native Americans believe their somewhere in Asia. Washington, D.C. This ancestors always lived on this continent. Like other Cuesheet is designed to Large numbers of Native Americans lived on the .The Sioux Europeans, he did be used before and not know that the migrated there in the 1600s.They had lived along the as Americas existed. after attending a farmers and hunters in places that today are the states of , performance by the Because he , and .When they were defeated by their American Indian thought he was Lakota Sioux Indian enemies and when white settlers seized their land, the Sioux had sailing in the Indian Dance Theatre. You may Ocean when he use Cuesheet alone or to leave their farms and hunting grounds and landed at San with others. Some of the wander in search of a new home. Eventually, they reached the Great Plains and learned to lead Salvador Island in suggested activities in it the Bahama will be more interesting nomadic lives, moving from place Islands, he called if they are done with to place in search of food. the people he met classmates, friends, or Farming, forests, and lakes “los Indios.” family members. were forgotten as the n Sioux learned to What’s in live in an Cuesheet? “ocean of The Lakota Sioux: A Rich grass”. History, page 2 Spirits and Myths, page 5 htscvr&pg :Ntoa nhoooia rhvs Smithsonian Institution National Anthrolopogical Archives, Photos cover & page 2: Dances and the Circle The Great of Life, page 6 Plains cover The Lakota Sioux more than 1,500,000 Indian Dance square miles. The Theatre, page 8 terrain of the Looking and Great Plains varies. Listening, page 9 It has vast Family, Community, grasslands. It also and Nature’s Cycle, has some rugged page 10 hills, such as the The Buffalo: A Valued , which Friend, page 12 are the sacred You May Want To..., ceremonial grounds page 12 of the Sioux.

2 THE NAMES by which we know Native American tribes were given to them by white explorers and settlers. The Chippewa called the Sioux “Nadewisue” (nay- day-wee-soo), the word for “little snake,” meaning “enemy.” French explorers had difficulty saying the name and shortened it to “Sioux.” The Sioux are composed of three principal language groups living in different The Sioux were one of the 30 tribes that lived on the Great Plains.They parts of the Great soon became fierce warriors and buffalo hunters. From 1830 until 1870, Plains: Lakota, the Sioux were the most powerful Plains Dakota, and Indians. . They all Unfortunately, contact with white settlers mean “the people.” brought the Sioux great misery. Settlers took the Sioux land and built fences around it to keep out other settlers and to prevent the Sioux from reclaiming it.The United States Government made treaties with

Native Americans HERE ARE MANY guaranteeing their ownership of Tfascinating land. Unfortunately, all those details concerning the treaties were broken by Battle of Wounded the Government. Many Sioux died of diseases like smallpox and Knee. Research and RESERVATIONS measles, which the settlers brought with them and to which the Sioux were explain what role the are places set not immune. Many Sioux died in battles with army troops sent to played in aside by federal control them. Like other Native Americans, they were forced to live the battle, why the and state in poverty on reservations. battle happened, and governments for what its results were. Indians to live on. For the Sioux, the final devastating massacre of their people occurred There are about in 1890 at the Battle of Wounded Knee, when almost 250 men, women, 300 reservations and children were killed by United States soldiers.The Lakota Sioux believe located in 34 that the sacred circle of life was broken for them at that states. battle, and it is only in recent times that the circle is becoming whole again.

3 The Sacred Pipe is the holiest HE NAMES of many of all objects for Tplaces in the United the Sioux. The oday, Lakota Sioux continue to live on reservations in North and States have American Indian names. Some of wooden stem and , , Minnesota, and . Some live in them are: pipestone bowl . However, many Lakota Sioux live, as other Americans do, represent the T Potomac (River), in urban communities throughout the country. Today, Manhattan, American Indian’s there are about 1,900,000 Native Americans Chicago, body. The tobacco living in the United States. Appalachia, in the bowl Since 1924, when Indians were recognized as American citizens, their and Mississippi. represents all living lives have gradually improved. But their struggle Identify places in the green things. The goes on. New homes and roads are being city or state where you smoke that comes built on reservations.There are new live that have Indian from the pipe rep- and better schools. Over 30 tribal names. Find out resents the breath colleges and universities what the names of the people, and throughout the mean. Make a small it carries to country offer dictionary of them. , the programs which Creator. include the study of Native American Part of the heritage. land taken More and more American OME FAMOUS illegally from the Indians are claiming SLakota Sioux Lakota Sioux is the their civil rights. The leaders were Chief Black Hills of South (AIM) , Chief Red Dakota, their and other reservation-based Cloud, Chief , sacred ceremonial organizations have helped to bring Chief , and grounds. The tribe Chief . Find sued the United about change. “Self-determination,” out why they are States government by which Indians decide how they remembered. Alone or for the return of will use the natural resources on with others, make a that part on which the reservations and make other no one lives. In 1980 decisions for themselves, has booklet in which you include their the Government become important. biographies and admitted it was The Sioux are sharing more and wrong and offered pictures. Donate your more of the pride they feel about to pay millions of booklet to the school dollars to the tribe. their heritage. Sioux legends and library or media center. The Sioux refused histories have been collected and the money and published. Old skills are used appealed the ruling. again.The Lakota Sioux Indian They want only Dance Theatre shares an ancient their sacred land culture through rituals, songs, and returned. By 1994 to the Buffalo no decision had dances presented to audiences been reached. throughout the world.

4 Spirits and Myths Spirits The Sioux pray to the Great Spirit,Wakan Tanka, who created the sacred circle of life on earth.They believe Wakan Tanka THE SIOUX regard the eagle as the gave power to all things. most powerful of Native Americans believe that special EAD SOME Native birds. They also powers were given to many different R believe that it has animal spirits, such as the eagle, deer, hawk, American creation important and buffalo. Many times animal myths, for example “The White Buffalo Calf religious spirits were called upon signifi- Woman.” Choose one during vision cance. that interests you most Because quests. and do one of the it can fly high A boy following to retell it: n enough to disappear around 12 Eagle Dance draw a set of sequential behind the clouds, years of pictures n record it on the Sioux believe age was carefully prepared by tribal elders and audiotape and share it the eagle a medicine man to go on the first of many vision with your friends and communicates quests. He would go to a quiet and lonely place to family n act it out by prayers to the yourself or with others great spirit, Wakan fast, taking with him the sacred pipe.Through the n create a dance that Tanka. The most vision quest he hoped to receive a message from sacred feathers Wakan Tanka and to gain wisdom expresses its meaning. come from the and strength to help him be a eagle. Eagle good member IND OUT MORE Photos by Sakari Viika F feathers are used of the about the impor- in war bonnets, and tance of feathers to the tribe, as part of dance Lakota Sioux. What is a and to costumes. “coup”? Why was understand his place in the circle of life. If the boy had a vision, he told it to counting coups the medicine man, who interpreted it for him. important to warriors? Make a set of drawings Myths showing how feathers Myths are traditional stories passed along through oral tradition. Some were worn by the Sioux myths explain how things came to exist. Some myths tell about gods and to show their bravery heroes. Some myths tell why people and animals behave the way they do. and accomplishments in battle. MEDICINE MEN are Different groups of people tell different myths, but many of them are people who have similar throughout the world. RITE A POEM received special Lakota Sioux myths teach that humans are a tiny part Wthat expresses healing power from of a large and mysterious universe. They also help Wakan Tanka. explain the sacred circle of life. Prayer, expressed through ritual and the respect Lakota They are the ceremony, is the way to make sure that life on earth is good. Sioux feel for the eagle. spiritual leaders of Among the responsibilities of the wise men of the tribe was to be the tribe. keepers of tribal memories, including myths.They were also responsible for passing on how to perform rituals and ceremonies.

5 Dances and the The Hoop Dance celebrates the way of life of all Native Americans. One legend says that Circle of Life the hoop dance is about the sacred circle of life. Dance is a central part of the life of the Lakota When a person does the hoop dance he is Sioux people.They dance to express their belief acknowledging the sacred circle and all the things in spirits, nature, and the relationship of all things that are connected within it. to one another.They dance to share traditions. They dance to honor people.They dance in pow- wows to celebrate their culture. And they dance to enjoy themselves. Native American dancers dance in honor of Wakan The Women’s Tanka, the Great Spirit. When Shawl Dance they dance to express their beliefs, to share requires dancers to traditions, or to honor people, all the members of improvise move- the tribe are part of the dance. Even the people ment to unusually standing around the circle in which the dances fast drum beats. are performed are part of it. Mothers may hold Important in the babies, people may chat and gossip, but dance are the everyone helps the dancers by praying and women’s fringed shouting approval and applauding. In that way, shawls and beaded all the members of the tribe leggings and moc- participate in the dance. casins.The women When the dancers perform in front of move their arms to audiences in theaters, things are different.The imitate eagles’ dancers are sharing their traditions with and wings.The Women’s telling about their history to nontribal audiences. Shawl Dance is not a Since they perform on a stage rather than traditional dance. It in the sacred circle on their reservations, a was invented in the narrator explains the dances 1940s and ’50s. so that the audience will understand them.When dances are performed for other Lakota Sioux, everyone understands their meaning because they have grown up participating in them. At the performance of the Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre, the narrator will explain the meaning of each dance. He will also discuss important ideas about the history The Women’s Traditional Dance honors and beliefs of the Lakota Sioux.The dancers will women, who represent Mother Earth. In Lakota Sioux tradition, sometimes sing while they dance. Some women are admired as the bringers of peace and harmony. members will play the flute and drum.There are many kinds of dances performed by the Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre. A few of them are described on these pages.

6 The is also called The Grass Flattening Dance.The dancers flatten a grassy area where a special event takes place. In the past, those who performed the dance were admired because when they danced they cleansed and purified the circle in which they danced.The movement, in combination with the sweetgrass on the dancers’ leggings, are an offering to the Earth Mother and to the Great Spirit.Today, dancers wear yarn on their leggings instead of sweetgrass.

The honors the animal that gave the Lakota Sioux food, shelter, and other means of survival.This dance was originally performed by members of the Buffalo Society, all of whom had dreamed of the buffalo in their vision quests.

The Sneak Up Dance reenacts a battle.The dancers depict warriors stalking their enemies.

The Eagle Dance is a prayer to the Great Spirit.The dancer asks for a blessing on the people as he imitates the soaring of the eagle, a symbol of the Great Spirit.The whis- tle imitates the eagle’s cry.

The Round Dance is one of the most significant dances in which men and women dance together. It is related to the hoop of the nation and the sacred circle.The Round Dance is a friendship dance for all people to join in to complete the sacred circle of life and to help keep all things on earth in balance.

7 The Lakota Sioux Narrator Indian Dance Theatre The Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre, produced by The Solaris Lakota Project, tours with approximately 12 to 15 American Indians who perform dances, songs, and ceremonies that have been part of their culture for centuries. The Dance Theatre shares its work by traveling throughout the world.The members of the com- pany are eager for everyone to see the beauty of their culture. The Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre was founded on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota in 1978. Henry Smith, the artistic director, worked closely with Sioux leaders, who helped him decide what dances to perform and how to present them for both Indian and nontribal audiences. Mr. Smith is not an American Indian, but he has been so devoted to learning about and sharing the culture through the dance of the Lakota Sioux that he has been adopted by some tribal families. He became interested in Lakota Sioux dance traditions when he was teaching dance in a school on a South Dakota reservation.

The narrator is a respected elder and storyteller. Sometimes the Above: Grass Dance. Right: Men’s narration is provided by Albert White Hat, who Traditional Dance. helped make the film “.” Sometimes it is provided by Lance White Magpie, a descendant of Chief Crazy Horse, or by Marian One Star, a consultant on tribal customs. The musicians in the company are Gabe DesRosiers, the lead singer of Northern Wind, a group that performs at many powwows, and Brian Akipo, a traditional flute player. Lead dancers are

Marian One Star, Jessie Spotted Tail, Grace Her Photos by Sakari Viika Many Horses, Leon Thompson, Lance White Magpie, and Lillian and Ron Good Eagle.

8 Looking and Listening Attending a performance by the Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre will be interesting and enjoyable for everyone if you remember... ' the dances allow us to experience some- thing about the Lakota Sioux way of life. ' the dances are about such things as the sacred hoop, the buffalo, and the eagle. ' that the Lakota Sioux believe that dance is an important part of the sacred circle of life. ' dance must be watched closely in order to see the patterns of movement. watch... REATE A DANCE ' how the dancers use the space of the stage: Cthat expresses one place or many; close together or far something you are apart. grateful for. Choose ' how the dancers’ movements are usually music that goes well close to the ground. with your dance. ' how the dancers start and stop exactly on Practice the dance. the beat. Perform it for class- ' how the dancers show energy: fast, slow; mates, friends, or your calm, exciting. family. Explain to ' for objects such as eagle feather fans and them what you are horse dance sticks. grateful for and why.

listen... MAGINE that you ' how the drum Iare a dance critic for beats fit the dances. a newspaper or ' for the one magazine. Write a special time in each 200-word review of dance when four beats the Lakota Sioux are sounded loudly and Indian Dance Theatre. Tell what dances were the dancers turn four performed and what times. (The four beats they mean. Offer your represent the four opinion about how directions of the compass, well they were which are part of the sacred performed and how circle of life.) they made you feel. Round Dance ' for rhythms. ' for singing.

9 Family, Community, and Nature’s Cycle Family Structure Members of the traditional Lakota Sioux tribe lived in close-knit families. The work of both men and women was necessary to the survival of the

family. However, they had different responsibilities. HAT ARE FOUR Men fought and hunted.They were responsible WIMPORTANT for the ceremonies and rituals.They also VIRTUES you want to prepared young men for their vision quests. develop? Draw a Women raised the children and taught shield divided into The four most them the Four Great Virtues of Life. four sections. Write important one quality in each human Women also grew crops, made tepees section. Then draw a qualities for and clothing, and cared for the sick. the Lakota Families passed on picture for each Sioux were tribal beliefs and quality that explains what the quality bravery skills for survival. and In this way, Lakota Sioux made means to you. fortitude, sure that the circle of life would generosity continue. and wisdom. These Lakota Doll, 1880. were called Denver Art Museum the Four Great Virtues of Life. Each virtue is connected to the others. All family members strived for worthiness in Smithsonian Institution National Anthrolopogical Archives, each virtue.

Community The Lakota Sioux community was made up of groups of many families. Each group was an extended family of fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts. Men and women had different jobs, but they worked together for everyone’s benefit.

10 Nature’s Cycle To Native Americans, the seasons were part of the great circle of life. The Sioux did not AKE A WALL tell time by the sun, as we MCALENDAR do, but by the moon.They using the Lakota named the changing moons to Sioux names of the describe seasonal activities. moons of the year. Spring began in our month of April and was Illustrate what the names mean. Mark known as “Moon of the Birth of Buffalo Calves.”In the spring, families left Pemmican your birthday and the is their winter camps and began gathering food and hunting, though they preserved deer birthdays of your allowed the buffalo to fatten until fall. meat that has family and friends. Summer been flattened began in our month of June, which was known as “Moon and mixed with When Strawberries Are Ripe.”At the beginning of summer, men went on tallow (fat) and vision quests to seek personal guardian spirits. Also in the summer, all the dried choke Sioux tribes met and arranged their tepees in circles. For four days they cherries. It is purified themselves. For the next four days they celebrated the sacred Sun somewhat similar to Dance ceremony. modern-day “beef- Fall began in our month of August, which was known as “The jerky.” Harvest Moon.”It was the most important hunting season of the year.The men killed enough buffalo for the meat to last through the long, frozen “A beautiful tepee winter.The women made pemmican from the meat. is like a good mother. Winter She hugs her children began in our month of November, which was to her and known as “The Winter Moon.”As the snow began to fall, protects them from families settled into winter campsites. Men and boys repaired heat and cold, snow and rain.” Tepee: the dwelling tools while women and girls sewed, decorated clothing, and —Sioux proverb of the Lakota made dolls. At night, stories were told around the tepee Sioux. Tepees were fire. Soon it would be spring, and the circle of seasons always placed in a would begin again. circle. The word tepee comes from the Sioux words “ti,” meaning “dwelling,” and “pi,” meaning “used for.”

11 You may want Barron’s Educational to read... Series, Inc., 1993. Brown, Dee. Wounded Taylor, Colin. The Plains Knee, An Indian History Indian. New York: of . Crescent Books, 1994. Adapted for Young Weatherford, Jack. Readers by Amy Ehrlich Indian Givers. New York: from Dee Brown’s Bury Ballantine Books, 1988. My Heart at Wounded Wolfson, Evelyn. The Knee. New York: Henry Teton Sioux: People of Holt & Co., 1974. the Plains. Brookfield, The Buffalo: Campbell, Maria. People Connecticut: The Mill- of the Buffalo: How the brook Press, 1992. A Valued Friend Lived. Buffalo, New York: Fire- You may want Millions of buffalo roamed free on the Great Plains before the white settlers fly Books, Ltd., 1992. to see... moved west.The lives of the Lakota Sioux revolved around the hunt of the Erdoes, Richard. Native Last Stand at Little Big buffalo.They honored the animal’s spirit and used all of its parts for their Americans: The Sioux. Horn. “PBS: The Ameri- survival. New York: Sterling Pub- can Experience” (60 lishing Company, 1982. minutes),WGBH Educa- Between one and two hundred uses were Hassrick, Royal B. The tional Foundation found for the buffalo’s body parts. The Sioux made Sioux: Life and Customs (Boston) and Thirteen/ tepees, blankets, clothes, ropes, shoes, and drumheads from buffalo skins. of a Society. WNET, 1992. Norman, Oklahoma: They made containers, such as cups and dishes, and gun-powder horns. Live and Remember (Wo University of Oklahoma Kiksuye), 1987; Fulfilling Bones were used for needles. Because the Sioux did not make pottery, they Press, 1967. the Vision (Oyate Igluki- used dried buffalo stomachs to store water and as containers in which to Josephy, Jr., Alvin M. 500 nipi), 1992; Come to the cook. Before the Sioux had horses, they disguised themselves in buffalo Nations, An Illustrated Center and Dance (Coka- History of North Ameri- ta Upo), 1994; (30 min- skins that still had the heads attached when they IND OUT MORE can Indians. New York: utes each), available hunted the buffalo.Women kept count of the Fabout ways the Alfred A. Knopf, 1994. from Solaris Lakota buffalo hides they prepared by carving small dots Sioux used the parts MacDonald, Fiona. Project, 264 West 19th Street, New York, NY, on the handles of the scrapers with which they of the buffalo. Make Plains Indians. Haup- pauge, New York: 10011. did their work. an illustrated chart Some say there were as many as 12 million showing the uses and buffalo when settlers and prospectors arrived share it with your on the Great Plains.They destroyed the grass the classmates. James D.Wolfensohn, Chairman Lawrence J.Wilker, President buffalo ate.They turned many parts of the Great Plains into grazing and Derek E. Gordon, Associate Managing Director, Education farm land.Worst of all, they killed millions of buffalo for sport. By Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre 1889, only 540 were still alive. Today, 15,000 buffalo live Executive Editors: Lynne Silverstein and John C. in protected areas. Some others live in national parks. Several thousand are Carr. Contributing Writers: John C. Carr, Sherill raised on private ranches and are sold for food. Berryman-Miller, and Cynthia Word. Design: Paul Dupree Communications. Special Thanks to: Henry Smith, artistic director, Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre; Marian One Star, Lakota Sioux cultural consultant and Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre member; Dr.Arnie Beauvais, Dean of Education and Tribal Studies,Sinte Gleska University,Rosebud Reservation,South Dakota; and Janet Starke. Cuesheet is funded in part through the support of the U.S. Department of Education,The Kennedy Center Corporate Fund, and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. ©1995 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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