Lakota Creation
Iyan's Sacrifice
Jun 16, 2008 Jeffrey R Gudzune
The Sioux Nation has a rich tapestry of religious tradition that is closely entwined with the natural and supernatural realms. Although much of that tradition was seriously undermined by the efforts of white missionaries during the tumultuous formative years of the United States and its expansion westward, the twentieth century has seen a bold resurgence of traditional religious practices. Much of what is known about Sioux religion comes from the recollections of the practitioners of the rituals and ceremonies that make up this rich heritage. Through the efforts of native historians and with the assistance of members of Sioux tribes, there is now extant significant scholarship regarding these unique cultural practices.
The Sioux and Nature
The Sioux concept of a creator spirit is linked with their belief in the interconnectedness of man and nature. Like other Plains tribes, the Sioux are close to their environment and mindful of the world around them. Subsistence hunters who relied on the environment for the basic elements of survival, the Sioux developed a naturalistic religious philosophy. This is not to say that there was no structure or philosophical subtext behind it, but rather a series of religious beliefs based on the relationship with the environment. Since the entire Sioux Nation consists of 14 tribes, all speaking the same language family and generally encompassing the same territory, there is consistency in the interpretations on the subject of creation. By and large, the constituent tribes of the Sioux Nation have come to be known by their individual tribal names over the larger family name. Furthermore, geographic variance and individual cultural development have resulted in marked differences in tribal religious philosophy. In order to present the most detailed examination of the creation mythos, the Lakota tribe serves as a primary reference.
Iyan’s Sacrifice
The Lakota have an epic creation story that rivals that of the biblical Genesis. At first, there was only Iyan—the rock. Iyan existed in a dark and lonely void. Having no companionship, and nothing but his own thoughts to sustain him, Iyan dreamed of something better. He pierced his skin and as his blue blood flowed it spawned Maka Ina—Mother Earth. It continued to flow and formed the oceans and the sky (known as Mahpiyato). The essence of Iyan’s blood, Taku Skan, is the life force of the planet. This act of creation represents a sacrifice in that it left the creator lifeless and barren. From this point, the story details the creation of the sun, the moon, the winds, and man.
Sun, Moon, and Wind
The Sky (Mahpiyato) created the Sun (Anpetu Wi) and the Moon (Hanhepi Wi), who in turn entered into a symbiotic relationship—one cannot exist without the other. Sky then created the Tate’ (Chief of all Winds) to govern the winds which will sustain the life essence of the planet. These are the true guardians of the earth, the children of Taku Skan. This story forms the basis of Lakota creation mythology. The essential, symbiotic components of earth, sky, water, wind, sun, and moon were formed from Iyan’s sacrifice. These components next created the inheritors of Iyan’s desire—man and woman.
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).
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles