The evolution of Lakota social and political structure from pre-contact through the present with maps of the Lakota Nation.
Traditional Lakota tales of the creation of the universe, the earth and the emergence of life and mankind within it.
Lakota traditional spiritual beliefs, rites and ceremonies, past and present
Traditional Lakota folk tales in English and Lakota.
A guide to the Lakota alphabet and pronunciation with streaming audio. An introduction to Lakota rules of grammar, verb lists and dictionaries (English & Deutsch).
Song structure of Plains music, historical diffusion of songs, dances and regalia on the Plains. Lakota songs to listen to and download.
Current events, national news clippings.
The full complete text of Treaties and U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Šung'manitu-tanka, the Great Plains or Buffalo Wolf - The nation of wolves and their unique relationship with the Lakota.
Links to Native American sites on the World Wide Web.
Hau! Tima hiyu wo!
'Greetings! Come inside!'
Hokahe, hel iyotaka. 'Welcome' to the
Lodge of Šung'manitu-Išna, ' Lone Wolf '.
The intent of these pages is to honor a proud and noble
people, the Oglala Lakota, of Pine Ridge, South
Dakota. A people who live in harmony with the universe
despite an ongoing racial cleansing that has lasted for over
five hundred years. The Lakota are as diverse
individually as any other American and always in a state of
transition; I present in these pages the culture that
makes them unique. This is an educational presentation in no
way intended to exploit the Lakota people, their culture, or
their traditional beliefs. I am attempting this project to
preserve this rich culture and language. As long as there is
an interest, the Lakota culture will endure time and
transformation. I strive to live Lakol' wicokan
to honor them and all my relations.
Mitakuye oyas'in
~ Šung'manitu-Išna
“Upon suffering beyond suffering; the Red Nation
shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A
world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations; a
world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations
when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of
Life and the whole earth will become one circle again. In that day
there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and
understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white
ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute
the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when
you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we
shall be as one.”
–Tašunke Witko (Crazy Horse)
A Prayer
Tunkašila, unci maka wamakanškanya
tatuye topa kin lena tawaic'iya nanke.
Na maka wita kin le, cannunpa kin le,
ikce wicaša hena unkawanlakapi,
wicouncage topa kin lena wicotakunišni
hinajinpi eša hena kakušyeya najin yo!
Grandfather,
Grandmonther,
to the Powers in the Animal Nations
of the Four Winds.
Watch over the Sacred Pipe, Grandmother Earth,
and the People:
Our Forefathers, Elders,
Little Ones,
and the Unborn.
Grandfather,
I have a genuine need and I need your help.
I pray through the Sacred Pipe
for my People, all life,
for health and happiness.
Grandfather,
hear my prayer.
I have a genuine need and I need your help,
help me.
We are all related.
- Wanbli Cik'ala, Wallace Black Elk -
The Oglala Lakota
Flag
First used in 1961, this flag was approved by the Oglala Sioux Triba OST Council on
March 9, 1962 as the official flag of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The flag is comprised of eight white tipis, each of which
represents one of the eight districts in which the seven tiyošpayes (from ti, 'to dwell' and ošpaye, 'a band, a
division of a tribe, and/or a community') of the Oglala Lakota settled at Pine Ridge at the end of the ninteenth century. The tipis
are arranged in a hocoka, 'camp circle' (the circle is a wakan, 'sacred', symbol representing continuity and unity) on a
red background, a wakan, sacred, color. It is but a small simple cloth with a simple design, yet it is full of meaning, pride,
faith and hope.
Tunkašilayapi tawapaha kin oihankešni najin kte lo
Iyoĥlate oyate kin
wicicagin kta ca hecamon welo.
He yuha natan pe
He yuha natan pe
Tunkašilayapi tawapaha ca he yuha natan pelo
Lakota hokšila he ohitika ca he yuha natan pe
Tunkašilayapi tawapaha ca he yuha natan pelo.
The flag of the United States will fly forever
Beneath it, the people will grow, that is why I do this.
They are carrying it charging
They are carrying it charging
They are carrying the flag of the United States, charging
The brave Lakota boys are carrying it, charging
They are carrying the flag of the United States, charging.
"Tunkašilayapi tawapaha kin iyuškinyan icu wo."
Eya ca iwacu we.
Ho ekta wacipi.
Le micu we.
"Rejoicedly take the United States flag."
He said this and I took it.
Ho, they're dancing toward it.
Give it back to me.
The interior of a traditional tipi, looking thru the doorway towards the place of honor.
(from 'The Indian Tipi', Reginald and Gladys Laubin, 1957)
Clicking the tipi icon on the bottom of each page of this site will always bring you here,
The evolution of Lakota social and political structure from pre-contact through the present,
distinguished Lakota, photos of the Oglala Lakota people, conflict history, and maps of the Lakota Nation.
A guide to the Lakota alphabet and pronunciation with streaming audio. An
introduction to Lakota rules of Grammar and verb lists, and the Lakota kinship system with
dictionaries. Vocabulary charts of over 500 common Lakota words and phrases
(English & German!) with audio pronunciation. Lakota Language
Teaching Software is available here.
Song structure of Plains music, historical diffusion of songs, dances and
regalia on the Plains, The Powwwow (includes annual Plains events calendar),
Pan-Indianism/Pan-Tetonism, Detailed description of dance and regalia styles
and traditional dance regalia construction. Lakota songs
to listen to and download.
The full complete text of Treaties and U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Many definitive and helpful links about Native American civil and treaty
rights for those doing legal research.
Links to more Lakota language and
culture sites, shops to buy Lakota flag products, and trading posts for all
your craft and regalia construction needs.
Send me your address and
banner to add to the page!
Click Here and listen to KILI (90.1 FM)! Owned and operated by Lakota Communications in Porcupine,
South Dakota, KILI serves 30,000 people on the Pine Ridge, Cheyenne River, and Rosebud reservations, along with
the large Native American urban community in Rapid City. The station started broadcasting in 1983 as the first Native
American-owned radio station in the United States. It seeks to preserve Native American culture and instill pride in the
peoples' unique heritage.
Click Here to visit KOLC-TV, which was started in 2004 by Oglala Lakota College.
The college felt that the Native peoples were not being represented in the national media in positive images. OLC approached
the Golden West Telecommunications network, and with their generous support, KOLC-TV began airing local Native American content.
KOLC-TV broadcasts academic, cultural and historical events. The Eyes of the Lakota Nation, they are showing real life accounts
of the Lakota. KOLC-TV currently offers video on demand; new titles appear weekly, and older broadcasts are archived by topic
for viewing. Late this coming summer, streaming live broadcasting from the KOLC-TV studios at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle,
South Dakota, and on location from around the Pineridge reservation will be available.
- a long time coming -
Our tribal colleges have started a hugely positive revolution in Indian Country.
Please join this revolution.
Become a crucial part of it.
The Lodge is continually being updated.
Please check back often.
The Lodge of Šung'manitu-Išna
now has a facebook community page for
native news, current events, update notifications, artwork, photos, featured culture articles/links and interaction!
Contains original art and programming by Däx Dämon
Däx Dämon is a member of:
Däx Dämon is the creative and published works of David Starn,
a BA graduate of Management and Information Systems and Computer Science at Florida State University.
Šung'manitu-Išna is a treasured given name.
Listen to Sioux National Anthem & Victory Song
Listen to Sioux Flag Song & Veterans' Song
Lakota Society
