Expelled from the land of the Buffalo Nation, Ite’ (now Anukite’) faced an uncertain future in the barren expanse beyond the known world. Longing for her people, she began to dread the prospect of an eternity without them. Her despair begins the next chapter in Ite’s evolution within Lakota creation mythology. Whereas she was once only the willing participant in her mother’s scheme to gain greater power, she will now devise her own scheme to end her intolerable exile. This is the point in Lakota creation mythology that Ite’ makes the leap from a primary figure in the origins of mankind and becomes something much more powerful—a cautionary tale that warns young people of the dangers of aberrant behavior.
For his part in the scheme to embarrass the gods, Iktomi has been exiled to the same barren expanse as Ite’. Although he retained his transformative powers, exile was tedium personified for Iktomi and he quickly tired of tormenting the small creatures that inhabited this land. When Ite’ approached him with the prospect of a return to the land of the Buffalo Nation, to alleviate his sense of boredom the trickster gladly accepted.
At this time in Lakota mythology, humans did not live on the surface of the earth. In fact, mankind dwelt primarily underground in a system of caves that had been created for them by the gods. Ite’ knew that she could never return to the world of her people, as she had been banished from both the mortal and spiritual realm, so she decided that her people should join her on the surface. Together, Ite and Iktomi devise a scheme to attract the Buffalo Nation away from their concealment and to the surface. To accomplish this goal, Ite’ uses the enticing aroma of roasted buffalo meat.
After killing this majestic creature, Ite’ fashions a robe from the buffalo’s hide and adorns it with porcupine quills. Iktomi transforms himself into the form of a wolf and, wearing the quill robe, takes the cooked meat to the entrance of the nearest cave. Placing the meat and the robe at the entrance of the cave, Iktomi withdraws and waits. Coincidentally, changes were occurring within the social structure of the underground society of humans that would assist Ite’ in her desires.
In the absence of Wazi and Wakanka, now both banished to the surface, a new human leader emerged. Tokahe’, whose name means First Man, discovered the roasted buffalo meat and the mysterious robe at the entrance to his domain. He brought the items back to his people and described the land above. While not all of the humans were convinced of the habitability of the surface, six men and women agreed to follow Takahe’ and his wife out of their habitat. From these seven couples came the root tribes of the entire Sioux Nation. Their first season on the surface was not a peaceful one, however, and they were soon plagued by the elements. Tokahe’ began to despair as the fierce winds, the children of Ite’, began to prevail upon the humans as they huddled for warmth.
It is at his most desperate hour that Takahe calls on Wazi (who is now known as Wizard) and Wakanka (who has become known as the Witch) and asks them to lead his people through this trying time. Together, Wazi and Wakanka teach the humans of the surface how to build homes and survive the harsh elements. Ite’ will once again emerge as a primary figure in the next stage of human social development.
David M Jones and Brian L Molyneaux, Mythology of the American Nations. (London: Hermes House, 2006).
Gilbert Legay, Atlas of Indians. (Hauppage: Barron’s Educational Services, Inc., 1995)
Peter Matthiessen, ed., George Catlin: North American Indians. (New York: Penguin Group, 1989).
Mark St. Pierre and Tilda Long Soldier, Walking in the Sacred Manner: Healers, Dreamers, and Pipe Carriers—Medicine Women of the Plains. (New York: Simon and Schuster,1995).
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000).
Carl Waldman, Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006).
