Being Lakota is a matter of mind

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Lakȟótapi kiŋ wičhótȟawačhiŋ ektá yeló.
“Being Lakota is a matter of mind.”
-- New Lakota Dictionary (listed under wičhótȟawačhiŋ)

In Lakȟótiyapi, the word iglúwašiču means “to make oneself be a white person […] to assimilate or conform to the white man’s world. In Lakȟótiyapi, the word iglúlakȟota means “to transform oneself into a Lakȟóta (as a character in a myth).” If being Lakȟóta is truly all a matter of mind, then that is my goal, to become that mythological character.

Takómni wašʼágyahaŋ wašíču wičhóuŋ ogná uŋkʼúŋpi.
“We exist in the white man’s world, trying to be strong, come what may.”
-- New Lakota Dictionary (listed under wašíču)

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When the white man landed on the shores of the New World, an eclipse blacker than any that ever darkened the sun, blighted the hopes and happiness of the native people, races then living in tranquility on their own soil.
-- Eli Seavey Ricker

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Eli Seavy Ricker interviewed John Shangrau, the mixed blood interpreter who was an eye witness at Wounded Knee. Shangrau told Ricker about what a young officer said to him, “Well, scout, we’ve got our revenge now!” Shangrau replied, “What revenge is that?” And the young officer replied, “Why, don’t you know? Revenge for the Custer massacre!”