Iye Ohdakapi: Their Stories Manitoba Dakota Elders
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Iye Ohdakapi: Their Stories Manitoba Dakota Elders Compiled by Craig Charbonneau Fontaine Interviews by Herbert Hoover Introduction The following stories were recorded in the summers of 1971 and 1972 on all five Dakota Nations in Manitoba. One interview was recorded at White Cap Dakota Nation in Saskatchewan. These interviews are part of a larger collection of interviews at the Institute of American Indian Studies, South Dakota Oral History Centre, University of South Dakota. The collection consists of approximately 5,500 interviews of Indigenous people’s lives in the northern Great Plains region. The collection contains an enormous wealth of oral history from many Indigenous Peoples throughout the Midwest states and fortunately the Canadian Dakota are included. Noted historian Dr. Herbert T. Hoover, Professor Emeritus, conducted the original recordings. I first came upon the interviews on microfiche at the University of Manitoba Library. I read through them and found the original transcriptions showed missing textual information in the work. Although this resulted in difficulties in comprehension one still understood the value the stories conveyed. I walked away knowing the importance these interviews would serve to Dakota history. Over the years publications devoted to Manitoba and Saskatchewan Dakota history have been written. All should be required reading for any student of history or Indian studies. Unfortunately, as with many history books, a key ingredient missing in these publications are the voices of the people themselves. Although this publication stands on its own merit it should serve to enhance the historical works already existing on the Manitoba Dakota. The Elders’ stories, as you will read and hear, convey memories of lived experiences and historical reflection. They demonstrate intelligence, humour, struggle, and a commitment to hard work that enabled all First Nations people to overcome the hardships of an indifferent and sometimes hostile populace. The recordings capture a moment in time in each Elder`s life, but the ideas and thoughts should enable further enquiry into the field of Dakota oral history. Students can use each elder`s story as a guide in developing future oral history projects in each Dakota Nation. When I was hired as a researcher at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc. (MFNERC) one of my original goals was to compile the interviews into a book. I contacted the University of South Dakota Oral History Centre to request permission to reprint the interviews. Permission was granted, and they also agreed to supply the original recordings in digitized form. I have tried my best to correct the errors in the original transcriptions. The quality of some of the original recordings did not facilitate easy transcribing, and I apologize if I have incorrectly misheard a word or phrase in the elders’ voices. As the project developed my next goal was to locate archived historical photos from each particular Dakota Nation. Some of the people and places in the photos have been identified with the help of those who graciously took the time to look at each photo. I am sure more individuals can be identified, but time and resources limited my ability for further enquiry. However, if you do recognize any individuals or mistakes in the photos or interviews please contact the MFNERC and relay the information for further printing corrections. Space has been added to the bottom of each unidentified photo in the hope that anyone who does recognize people will add the names in. This will ensure information will not be lost for the future generations. If you are willing to provide any historical photos or are interested in obtaining copies of the original recordings please feel free to contact the MFNERC. --- Craig Charbonneau Fontaine Acknowledgements A special thank you goes out Birdtail Sioux tribal member Riel Benn who created the cover artwork. A brief explanation by the artist of the work is as follows: “The cover painting was inspired by a few very different things, both old and modern. The focal point of this painting was the two drummers in the center of the nebula. It is based on one picture I found of Sioux drummers from the 1890's. The background was inspired by the star people stories and the television show star trek; giving it a contemporary element young people can relate too. Another element from star trek is the energize beams surrounding the drummers, as though through song and story both are being transported to a higher dimension. Surrounding the drummers is the spider’s web, a visual representation that everything in this universe is connected. The design of this painting also has a playful element to it. The spiders web was made possible by the children's game connect the dots and the constellations. Creeping on this web is a popular character from Sioux legend, my favourite, and the spider also known as "iktomi", who is creeping in the foreground, as though he is spying and watching everything in a sneaky mischievous sort of way. There also is a bit of humour added to the picture, a little hidden modern day icon you could say, hidden in the painting is a tiny USS enterprise, which was added near the end, a little game inspired by the "iktomi" character. Can you find the USS enterprise?” --- Riel Benn I would also like to thank Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre Inc. colleague Noella Eagle for providing advice and the title to the work. The following individuals were helpful in developing the publication of this material. They were generous with their time, advice, photographs, or technical support; Margaret Scott, Barb Innes, Corrine Harper, Elder Doris Pratt, Dianne Taylor, Valarie Courchene, Eli Tacan, Violet Benn, Barbara Eastman, and Arlene McKay, University of South Dakota Oral History staff members, Jennifer McIntyre and Jessica Neal, Centre du Patrimoine staff members, Gilles Lesage, Julie Reid, and Monique Gravel. I do apologize if I have missed anyone. The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc. would also like to acknowledge the following staff and contributors for their part in the creation of this work: Lorne Keeper, Executive Director Gwen Merrick, Associate Executive Director Vera Mitchell, First Nations Language Program Manager Margaret Scott, Special Education Program Manager Noella Eagle, Dakota Language and Culture Specialist Amber Green, Graphic Designer Kirby Gilman, Editor Photographic Material information: Provincial Archives of Manitoba, hereafter (P.A.M.) Societe Historique De Saint---Boniface, hereafter (S.H.St. B) Minnesota Historical Society, hereafter (M.H.S.) Benn Family Collection B. Innes and C. Harper Collection Contents Arthur Young....................................................................................................................................... 1 Cecil Sioux Benn .................................................................................................................................. 4 Edward Bunn ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Eli Bunn ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Emma Pratt ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Florence Bunn ................................................................................................................................... 31 George Bearbull ................................................................................................................................ 39 Arnett Smoke .................................................................................................................................... 44 Jacob Blacksmith .............................................................................................................................. 52 Kenneth Eastman ............................................................................................................................. 59 Lawrence Smoke ............................................................................................................................... 67 Nora Bunn .......................................................................................................................................... 74 Raymond H. Smoke Sr ....................................................................................................................... 76 Frank Eastman .................................................................................................................................. 86 Tom Benn .......................................................................................................................................... 93 Vernon Mazawasicuna and Pete Whitecloud ....................................................................................101 William T. Eagle................................................................................................................................110 Pictures of the Dakota Nations… ................................................................................................... 115 Arthur: Yeah, the old village there, I was born at Arthur Young the old village. Oak Lake Reserve, Manitoba. Summer 1972 INTERVIEWER: Have you been a farmer out here, Mr. Young? Tape 847 Arthur: One