The Souix

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

The Souix, whose name translates to 'treacherous snakes' are split into the Santee, the Yankton-Yanktonai and the Lakota.

They speak either the Dakota or Lakota language, both of which are very similar to one another and are collectively spoken by ~23,000 people.

The men are known for their elaborate buffalo hide paintings and the women for their bead art, as well as being skilled at pottery and quillwork.

Sioux men were expected to provide food and to protect their families, while the women were expected to cook, clean, take down/set up their teepees and take care of their children.

Every year, Powwows are held. These are ceremonies of "colorful finery, elaborate feather work and intricate beadwork" where raditional dancing is accompanied by singing and spirited drumming (Powwows).

Another ceremony held is the Wacipi, during which friends and families meet over the course of a few days to conduct honorings and giveaways.

Originally the Sioux led a "sedentary, riverine lifestyle, relying on agricultural products such as wild rices not addition to hunted game such as deer and fish" (Who).

However, when the Spanish brought horses over in the 16th century, the Sioux were able to keep up with the buffalo and began to live off of them, making sure to use every part.

The Sioux consisted of multiple, individually sovereign sub-tribes which worked together during times of war.

When food was scarce, bands would split into even smaller groups and go separate ways.

Each sub-tribe had multiple Chiefs including "a civil chief, a medicine man, and a war chief" (Sioux Indian Tribe: History).

The religion of the Sioux is centered around Wakan Tanka, the creator of everything. They also believe that everything has a spirit. There are 7 main spiritual ceremonies.

These ceremonies are called:

• The Keeping of the Soul
• Rite of Purification
• Vision Quests
• Sun Dance
• Making Relatives
• Preparation of Womanhood
• Throwing of the Ball
• (Sioux Indian Tribe Facts)

By allying with the Cheyenne, Araphoe and Blackfoot, as well as being the tribe with the most members, the Sioux dominated their adversaries, their main ones being the Crows, the Aikara and the Pawnee.

The Sioux became friendly with the British after the American Revolution War or 1812. Treaties were then made in 1815, 1825 and 1851. In 1862 however, unrest caused the Sioux to uprise and kill 800 settlers.

In 1867 a treaty was made in which they agreed to give up a lot of territory and live on a reservation in Dakota before 1876.

Today, the Sioux are amongst the poorest people in America. They have an "unemployment rate over 80 percent, arid land, few prospects for industry, abysmal health statistics and life-expectancy rates rivaling those of Haiti" (Uenuma).