What does the word Hethuska have to do with the Dakota? The word comes from the Dhegihan language group of Siouan speakers. These Dhegihan are the Omaha, Ponca, Quapaw, Osage, and Kansa Nations. They lived along the Ohio River back east and can be traced to their final destination, sent to Oklahoma after the Indian wars. Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca made history in the 1870’s to 1882 when he sued to be allowed to go back to their former stopping place in Nebraska. The Ponca Nation was now split into two divisions; the Northern Nebraska and Southern Oklahoma Nations, where they reside today. Their reservation in Nebraska is just south of the Pine Ridge Lakota reservation. The Northern Ponca sold the Lakota the Hethuska Society. About fifty years ago the Lakota called this society Omaha Wacipi or Dance of the Hethuska Society. This society is now known in Dakota / Lakota country as the Pow-wow.

The Hethuska was a Dhegihan warrior society who obtained it from the Pawnee. The Ponca /Omaha in turn passed on some of their customs to the Lakota (circa 1860) and also to all nations who participate the todays Pow-wow. The Ponca / Omaha customs: “Wapesa” (porcupine and deer tail) headdress, the big drum, the now defunct “Tail formerly danced at the end of each Pow-wow song, and the Feather Bustle are now part of the Pow-wow. The Pow-wow has now traveled to all parts of the United States and Canada. The Dakota name for a pow-wow singer is “Hoka” (dot above the “H”) which is a loan-word from the Dhegihan language. By the time this dance reached the Dakota there was a slight shift in the name. The Spirit Lake Dakota called the Pow-wow “Peji Wacipi” (Grass Dance) and its male members Heyuska.

How quickly we forget! How many things are forgotten in a short length of time? The only time the word Heyuska is heard today when the Singers sing the “Eat Song” before the food is served at cultural doings.

The words to the Supper or Eat Song: Heyuska Wotapi ey ey do. Wotapi ey ey do. (Pow-wow members they eat, they eat). Years ago the Singers at the Drum knew many Heyuska songs.

  1. Omaha Kin otehike yedo, Heyuska kin Koda eyapi do. (It is difficult in the Omaha Dance, the friends of the Members say.
  2. The Buffalo Club Song: Omaha kin Dakotapi tehike do. Heyuska kin koda he eyapi yedo. (It is difficult to be a club member, the friend of the Heyuska say). It is difficult because of all the duties and finances required as a club member).
  3. Heyuska Hoksina heya, keyapi, Koda bdiheiciye do. Dakota waun yedo, he caje mayatapi wacin yedo. (Heyuska boys, help out, I want my name mentioned). They want their names mentioned (honored in a song).
  4. Lady Singers Song: Itancan, Itancan, Itancan; koda sina waye. sina waye, sina waye; Heyuska kin niyuhapi ye. Itancan niyuhapi ye. (Leaders, leaders, friend use a shawl or blanket. The Heyuska they have you, leaders they have you). Meaning the girls are joined to the society with their robes.
  5. Omaha Kin eyapi do. Dakota Heyuska wacanmigu, iyotiye waki yedo. (The Omaha dancers say, the Dakota think a lot of the Heyuska).
  6. Hay Boys (Pezi Hoksina) Club Song: Omaha kin eyapi do. Dakotapi Heyuska Wacanmi kin Iyotiye wakiye do. (They say in the Omaha, Dakota club members cherish the customs).
  1. Funeral Song: Heyuska kin wanke do. {The deceased name}, kin wanke do. (A Heyuska is lying there, {the deceased name is mentioned}, is lying there).
  1. Funeral Song: PeziTanka kin, Oyate kin ceyapi, ceyapi, ceyapi. Heyuska wan wanice eya do. (Big Grass Society at Crow Hill, The people are crying, crying, crying. A Heyuska (club member) is no more, it is said.

These songs are the Heyuska songs that I remember from fifty years ago.

It should be noted the words are not in correct Dakota, they are adjusted to fit the melody. The first half of each song is composed of vocables, which make the tune of the song. The second half of the song contains the words. The Heyuska songs are usually sung four times (verses).

Bibliography

Garcia, Louis The Grass Dance. Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Fort Totten, ND Publishing,

Historian Hethuska, Post on American Tribes.com on Proboards.

Howard, James Henri The Ponca Tribe. Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 195. United States Printing Office. 1965.

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