The History and Culture of the Spirit Lake Dakota.
This is the part 2 continuation of Gift of the Sacred Pipe from the April 15 DLJ.
This promise of her return became real when several white buffalos were born to various herds. The Turtle Mountain Chippewa gave a white buffalo to the Spirit Lake Tribe. A treasured gift. Today you will see at various places Tiyutanpi (Bent Lodges), they are Inikaga, (Making Life). The people presently call them Sweat Lodges. The people are praying and fasting for the Ptesanwin to return.
The Sacred Pipe has been handed down to at least thirteen keepers. Now Orvil Looking Horse is the chosen one to lead the Oceti Sakowin into a brighter future. The Sacred Pipe is like a Bible in our modern Christian courts. To smoke the pipe is a statement of truthfulness. Lie and you will be a pile of bones.
Song of the Sacred Pipe
(Song of the White Buffalo Maiden)
(She sang this song as she entered the Camp)
Niya Taninyan With Visible Breath (her breath as it escapes her mouth on a cold day)
Mawani Ye. I am walking. (the “Ye” at the end is a female statement)
Oyate le This Nation (Buffalo Nation)
Imawani, I walk towards,
Na And
Hotaninyan My voice is heard
Mawani Ye. I am walking.
Niya Taninyan With a visible breath.
Mawani Ye. I am walking
Waluta le This scarlet object (probably referring to the pipe bowl, Scarlet is a sacred color)
Imawani Ye. I am walking.
(This song has been passed down for many, many winters. Sung by Wakinyan Watakpe (Charging Thunder1911 for Miss Densmore). Teton Sioux Music Page 67.
Bibliography
Densmore, Francis Teton Sioux Music. Smithsonian Institute, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 61, Washington Printing office 1918. Miss Densmore (1867 – 1957). Born in Red Wing, Minnesota. She began recording Indigenous music in 1907. She wrote 14 books containing music of 18 tribes. Teton Sioux Music is her significant work)
Smith, John L. A Short History of the Sacred Calf Pipe of the Teton Lakota. South Dakota University Museum News 28 (1967): pages 1- 37.
Thomas, Sidney J. A Sioux Medicine Bundle. American Anthropologist 43 (1941): Pages 605-9.
