Sioux

Hello, we are here to share our story. We are the Sioux people, but our name for ourselves is Oceti Sakowin. In our language, this means the Seven Council Fires. Think of us as a very big family. Our family is made of different groups that are connected. Three of these groups are the Lakota, the Dakota, and the Nakota. Our home for a long time was on the Great Plains. This is a big, beautiful land with lots of green and yellow grass. The sky feels huge and open there. We lived close to the earth on these wide, grassy lands.

A very special animal lived with us on the Great Plains. This was the American bison. These big, strong animals were so important to our way of life. We treated the bison with respect, and we were thankful for everything it provided for our families. We used the bison for food to eat so we could be healthy and strong. We used its hide to make warm clothes to wear when the air was cold. We also used the hides to make our homes, which are called tipis. Tipis are cone-shaped homes. This was how we lived in balance with the land. We used what nature gave us and took care not to waste anything.

Guess what? We are still here today! Our communities are alive, and our culture is strong. We make sure our traditions are passed down to our children. We do this by telling our important stories and singing our beautiful songs. We also have special gatherings called powwows. Powwows are happy times when we all come together. We visit with family and friends, we dance, and we share our culture. It is a wonderful way to celebrate who we are. We are very proud to be the Oceti Sakowin. Our history and our traditions are an important part of us today.