Native American Star Lore Dakota and Lakota (original) (raw)

**Please note:**Some letters in the Lakota Alphabet have no equivalent in common html code. I tried to replace these letters as authentic as possible, but please refer to the (D)Lakota Star Mapfor the correct spelling.

Gle�ka Wakaŋ Gle�ka Wakaŋ, the Sacred Hoop is a ring of red clay surrounding Paha Sapa - the Black Hills. It is also called Ki Iŋyaŋka O�aŋku, the Racetrack.In a Lakota creation story, the ring became the race track on which the Great Race between the four legged and the winged-ones took place. The race was to determine the fate of the two-legged - the humans. The buffalo claimed superiority over all other creatures and chalenged the humans to a race. The birds entered the race on behalf the humans.At the end of the race, Running Slim, a lean female buffalo who was in the lead throughout almost the entire race got too sure of her win and stopped paying attention to her competitors. At the last minute, Magpie won the race, which gave humans superiority over the buffalo.You can read the whole story at Akta Lakota Museum.

� Native Skywatchers

Dakota astronomy puts the race track into the heavens, connecting some of the brightest stars of the winter sky. The constellation is almost identical with the "western" asterism Winter Hexagon. The only difference: It bypasses Aldebaran (α Tau) and extends into the Pleiades.Clockwise, the racetrack connects Sirius (α CMa), Procyon (α CMi), Pollux (β Gem), Castor (α Gem), Capella (α Aur), the Pleiades and Rigel (β Ori). Sources: Dakota Constellation Guide, Akta Lakota Museum, lakotajewelry.com, Astro by Mark

KeyaIn Dakota astronomy, the stars of Pegasusform Keya, the Turtle.When a baby girl is born the umbilical cord is cut from the mother and placed in a beaded leather pouch in the shape of the turtle. It is said that when the physical connection with the mother is severed, the connection to the stars is renewed. The turtle carries its home on its back, it lives long with a strong heart and therefore is connected to wisdom and perseverance. Source: Dakota Constellation Guide, Astro by Mark

Keya� Native Skywatchers

Dakota and Lakota have several meaning for the asterism known as the Big Dipper: To Win/Tuƞ Wiƞ - Blue Woman/Birth Woman Midwives and others pray to the Blue/Birth Woman Spirit so newborn babies will enter this world safely. She is a doorkeeper between worlds. Wi�akiyuhapi - Stretcher The Stretcher carries a person that has passed away into the spirit world. These are the four stars on the bowl of the Big Dipper. The Mourners are the three handle stars that are carrying the deceased. Oceti Sakowiƞ - Seven sacred rites/council fires The Big Dipper also represents the Oceti Sakowiƞ, the Seven Council Fires of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota (Assiniboin) nations. �aƞnunpa - The Sacret Pipe The Big Dipper is part of the 'Pipe Ceremony in the Stars':The first day of spring or the Vernal Equinox has held a place of high honor in the yearly calendar for many cultures and throughout human history. It is a day of balance, with twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. It is one of two days where the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. The Spring Equinox is one of the four guideposts or gateways in the circling of Earth around Sun.At sunrise, Dakota and Lakota peoples will celebrate the first day of spring with a Pipe Ceremony in the Stars. On this day, around sunrise, this sacred ceremony will unfold along the eastern horizon. The rising Sun, Wi, represents the fire or the hot coals. Looking northward along the east horizon is the asterism of the Big Dipper. In D(L)akota these same seven bright stars are known by several names and relevant here are the names Wicakiyuhapi (the Dipper) and Can Cinkska (Wooden Spoon).The Big Dipper represents the Sacred Pipe or �aƞnunpa. Between the pipe (the Big Dipper) and the fire (the Sun) is the plant medicine that is used in the smoking mixture, Chanś�śa ip�sye (Dried Red Willow). The Chanś�śa ip�sye constellation is made up of the three brightest stars in Aries and Triangulum. Sources: Pipe Ceremony in the Stars, Dakota Constellation Guide, Dakota Star Map

To Win/Tuƞ WiƞDakota Star Map by Native Skywatchers Stretcher and mourning people� Karl Bodmer Pipe Ceremony in the Stars� Annette S. Lee

Wi�aŋĥpi Waziyata/Wi�aŋĥpi OwaŋjilaOne Lakota story tells of how the North Star married Toŋwiŋ, a human woman. She lived in the star world with him but missed her home. One day she dug up a turnip and there was a hole. Through this hole she could see everyone back home. She fell threw the hole. Her son survived and later became the hero, Fallen Star. North Star was so sad from loosing his wife that he froze in the same spot and became Wi�aŋĥpi Waziyata, the star which stands in one place.

Wi�aŋlipi Waziyata� Native Skywatchers

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