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Post by lgarcia on Jun 16, 2014 16:29:39 GMT -5
Pete (dT) This should be posted in the 3 Tribes area.
The leader of the Hidatsa / Crow Circa 1550 had a dream and was told to move to the Missouri River. The Hidatsa say they were born and lived below the waters of the lake (Spirit /devils lake), half the tribe still lives under the water. A pregnant woman climbed the vine leading to the surface of the water, her weight broke the vine leaving the tribe half above and have below the water. I don't have this stuff in front of me to give you the leader's name. Perhaps someone can post more specific information. After the Hidatsa/Crow, the Blackfoot, Atsina, Cheyenne, among others passed through Spirit Lake (Miniwakan)on their way west. The Lakota were no where near this area until the Hunkpapa, Lakota began harassing the northern forts late 1860's. Toksta, Louie
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Post by lgarcia on Jun 16, 2014 13:27:19 GMT -5
Pete (dt): The Hidatsa name for the Black Hills is the same as the Lakota/Dakota. Awaxaawi Shibisha Sh Black Mountain (Hesapa for the Lakota). Yes, the Hidatsa lived here at Spirit Lake (Devils Lake, ND)prior to departing for the Missouri River. The main Hidatsa Village has been located on Grahams Island (Google Graham's Island State Park) I believe this site doesn't mention the Islands' pre-history, just has information about the park facilities. The Little Big Horn College (Crow) has language material for sale in their bookstore. Toksta, Louie
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Post by lgarcia on May 14, 2014 9:29:55 GMT -5
Yellow hair: I should point out that the names of the months are not standardized. There are many differences even on one reservation. I looked up some more names that were used here at one time but have fell out of use. February: Canhutaoksaska wi (Thawing tree stump month) June: wajustecasa Wi (red Strawberry Month) September: Wasutun Wi (harvest Moon) November: Takiyuha Wi (Rutting Moon) Hope this helps, LouieG
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Post by lgarcia on May 13, 2014 16:38:44 GMT -5
I know well to whom you are referring. part of the family lives here at Spirit Lake, Ft. Totten, North Dakota. Frank is a son? / grandson ? of Isaiah Dorman who was killed at the battle of the Little Big Horn by the Lakota. Isaiah was Custer's Lakota interpreter.
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Post by lgarcia on May 13, 2014 16:29:07 GMT -5
There are 40 to 60 moon names for the Dakota / Lakota. Each reservation has their own set according to their traditional territory. Most of the dictionaries or language books have these names in them. Also if you check the various Community Colleges on line, their monthly calendar also reflect these names. Here at Spirit Lake the months are as follows:
January Witehi wi (Difficult moon) Feb. wicata wi (raccoon moon) march istawicayazan wi (sore eye moon) April magaokada wi (geese return) may Wato wi (green grass) June Wipazukasa wi (Red juneberry moon) July Bdocokaya wi (middle of summer) August campasapa wi (black chokecherry month) Sept. canwapegi wi (brown leaf month) October canwapekasna wi (rustling leaf month) November tahekapsun wi Horns fall off month) December Waniyetu cokaya wi 9middle of winter) Where is the 13th moon? I will have to look it up. it falls in the spring time as this year we have a cold spring.
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Post by lgarcia on May 8, 2014 15:27:04 GMT -5
Winuna: Saswe is an Ojibwa / Metis word for a Frenchman.
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Post by lgarcia on May 1, 2014 9:35:57 GMT -5
Kingsley: If you email me your address I can Xerox a copy of the map via slow mail. I urged Paul Durand's son to reprint the book or print the new one with additions that he was working on when he died at age 90. The Minnesota Historical Society wanted to publish the book but offered Paul 15%, which he declined. Most authors get only a dollar a copy sold. Later, Louie
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Post by lgarcia on Apr 30, 2014 16:19:25 GMT -5
The study of place names has been overlooked for years. I need to have you look at Where the Rivers Gather and the Rivers Meet. (I think I butchered the title). By Paul Durand. This book based mostly on Nicollet's place names and interviews with Dakotas now sells for $200.(original price $15.00 ten years ago). I think historians have avoided place names because of lack of expertise in the languages, both European and Native American. When I first met Durand in 1976 or so, he asked me about the Indian names around Devils Lake. This encounter led me on a never ending quest for Dakota Place names. Time is getting short for the elders all across the country. it is almost too late in many areas and Tribes to record these names directly from the people. I urge everyone interested to compile a list for their area. One thing I do know is that the French usually kept the original Indian name whereas the English changed most of them. LouieG
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Post by lgarcia on Mar 5, 2014 16:34:38 GMT -5
Pahinzi: I am not sure why you are calling my attention to this Creation story. You must understand the Dakota language to fully understand the names of the spirits. Takuskanskan (taku = what; skan = movement; Skanskan= much movement) I would tell you more, but then every crystal gazer will know. See a person who has knowledge in this area face to face. Iktomni = a spider. ite = face. Tokaheya = First.
I hope you understand that the internet is not the place to discuss these religious things. LouieG
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Post by lgarcia on Mar 3, 2014 16:05:13 GMT -5
yellow hair: Thank you for posting the account of the Sacred Pipe. I would like to make a few comments about this account. 1) White Buffalo Maiden was naked (she was a buffalo), she didn't wear a white dress. 2) her being naked is why the one of the young men had lustful thoughts. 3) she carried the Sacred Pipe in a Bundle (Wakin). She never touched the pipe. She gave the bundle to the chief. No female except a virgin can touch a pipe. Don't listen to what women's libertarians say. 4) There a 13 moons in a year, not twelve. Toksta ake, LouieG
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Post by lgarcia on Feb 7, 2014 15:59:02 GMT -5
Cinemo: Thank you for answering my request. Basically what I wanted was to set up a separate thread or place entitled Grass Dance. Here we could discuss all the various aspects of this important old dance and ceremony as well as the modern pow-wow. Without showing I am a "know-it-all", as I said I am 73 years old and dancing since I was age eleven.
The Sneak-Up Dance is not that old, dating from 1950's, a show business dance. The words Le yuha manipi eca blotahunka ca wasoseyapi. Le = this; Yuha = you have; manipi = they walk, Blotahunka = Honored male; Ca = so; Wasoseyapi = all mixed up they are. We find this word in Minisose =turbid/ mixed-up water, the Missouri River, sometimes called in English Muddy Water. Yes, the words are referring to a wounded leader. The mixed-up part means they are fighting hand to hand.
Originally the dancers knelt down on one knee and shook their bells, shielding our eyes from the sun looking at the horizon for the enemy, and also pointing to the ground showing we found the enemies track. Then advanced toward the center until the end of the verse and then we turned around and walked back to the starting place. Rattled our bells, advanced, and walked back three times. On the last set we advanced and then the singers continued another (5th verse) and we circled the arbor in a victory style dance. Sometimes the singers added a "Tail"= Sinteodowan. The rez here are "D" speakers.
It is very possible that on the Lakota reservations the Sneak-up was originally the Wounded Warriors dance. Not everyone did the exact same thing. This is what I mean by wanting to have a discussion about the Grass Dance Society / Pow-wow. Now someone else join in with what they heard about the Wounded Warrior / Sneak-Up Dance. Toksta ake wacinyanke kta do, Louie
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Post by lgarcia on Feb 6, 2014 16:58:21 GMT -5
I would like to see a discussion on the Grass Dance. I posted a request on the Santee/ Sisseton Board for information on the Wounded Warrior (dance). So far no one has answered, perhaps no one knows about it. No one knows about the red feather attached to the Kangiha worn by the Wounded Warrior? Toksta ake, LouieG
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Post by lgarcia on Jan 29, 2014 17:04:01 GMT -5
Apaches are way out of my area of expertise but...... The other evening I watched the TV show on the History Channel called Ancient Aliens. They showed a tribe in Africa whose name escapes me. They wore a headdress very similar to headdresses worm by the Apache White Mountain Spirit Dance. Gee! I hope I got that one right. I think they are Gan dancers. For some reason they didn't put these two styles of headdress together in their program. The big question is how or why are two different people on two different continents wearing the same regalia?
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Post by lgarcia on Jan 23, 2014 10:41:06 GMT -5
As a so called (non-paid) local Tribal Historian (White Guy age 73)I write down and distribute essays on various topics. I am wondering if any of you can help me with the Wounded Warrior pantomime that was part of the Grass Dance. Twenty / thirty years ago local people described the event, but as they were children, they could not provide much information. I know during the society meeting they would sing a Soldier Song during which one of the members would fall to the ground. They said the fallen warrior would kick a foot to show he was still alive. Two dancers would each grab and arm and drag him off. Then they would giveaway. No one could even remember the names or even the Dakota name for this pantomime. Naturally each of the three participants had to have actually accomplished this event they were portraying. Once these Grass Dance Society members died or retired, so ended this demonstration.
Can anyone help me locate similar descriptions or provide additional information? Louie Garcia Ft. Totten, ND
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Post by lgarcia on Jan 8, 2014 13:07:48 GMT -5
LaDonna: Let me help you out in explaining religious and cultural items. When in Indian country it is expected that you bring a gift to someone you want to learn from. One guy here at Spirit Lake said to me- people bring me tobacco, I have lots of tobacco,I don't smoke. I need money or food or an expensive craft item. I remember years and years ago I had to pass up opportunities to interview elders. I had to feed my family and could not afford the interview at the time. The teacher looks you over and decides what he or she will give you.
Another example is when I taught college in New Town, ND. The college decided to have a quillwork class. The Hidatsa Women's Quillwork Society stopped the class. In questioning some of the members they told me that for a year they pray and sort quills; it takes years before they let them sew.
Once this stuff gets out on the world wide web then all these crystal rock and pretend pipe carriers learn this information. You must pay for all information. When you go to school - you pay for the class. Toksta ake do, LouieG
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