According to the primary Lakota creation story, all that there is was the act of one spirit’s desire to end his loneliness. Iyan (the Rock) was alone in the ethereal realm, but his desire to end that sense of isolation would result in the birth of a new world. After piercing his skin, Iyan bled onto the empty void and the barren primordial realm was infused with his life spirit (Taku Skan). This singular act of creation was the spark that ignited a chain of events that eventually lead to the creation of the Buffalo Nation—the Lakota tribe itself. Even into the modern age, this creation story is told by spiritual leaders among the Lakota so that every generation may know of the mythic origins of their nation. It remains an integral part of Lakota culture and stands at the heart of their religious beliefs.
Historic Perspective
While traveling through Sioux territory, George Catlin noted the ceremonies and religious practices of the Lakota tribe. He was, at first, taken aback by the marked differences in the ceremonial practices of the Sioux over his Mandan hosts. His observations were the first recorded descriptions of Lakota religious ceremony. Catlin noted that the Lakota have a dualistic religious belief system, in which there exists a singular good spirit as well as an inherently evil spirit. There are also a variety of equally important tertiary spiritual figures, which are held in the utmost esteem by the Lakota tribe. Catlin further noted that these spirits are linked to the creation of the Lakota tribe itself and in fact were the founders of the Buffalo Nation.
The Act of Creation
In the time before man, there existed only the spiritual realm. It was Sky who gave life to Sun and Moon and who created the winds. Continuing the act of creation, Sky then made the Pte’ Oyate’—the people under the ground, otherwise referred to as the Buffalo Nation. To lead the Buffalo Nation, Sky created Wazi (Old Man) and Wakanka (Old Woman). They in turn had a daughter, whom they named Ite’ (Face). Ite’ is blessed with beauty and soon took the eye of Tate’(Wind). Ite’ and Tate’ marry and have as their children the four winds. This marriage, however, did not please Wakanka, as she wished her daughter to be married to Wi (Sun), so that her family could possess his powers. Wakanka soon conceives a plan to achieve this end. It is at this point, where the mythic origins of the Buffalo Nation take on an even more dramatic aspect—with subterfuge among family members and conspiracies between mortals and gods.
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).
