Hey everyone, I just want to start off by diving right into what I want to share and discuss with you all, so I am showing a picture of my great, great, great, great grandfather. He is known as the one who killed the white buffalo cow. Isn’t this photo in creditable? I look at this photo with many emotions. I see my relative who was forced to live in a time of chaos of an era where people were consider nothing because of differences in the way of which was believed to live or how to looked and acted. He didn’t have a choice but to take action against what has happened to his culture and people. He had to take order and be a leader of his family (tribe) speaking out for all tribes. He was forced to become Americanized but tried to grasp on to his way of life and to try to keep his family strong in the direction of the circle. This man we are looking at is my ancestor. He was a voice of reason yet was anguished to see such defeat and destruction due to a strong era of genocide of his family and of other tribes. A great warrior, who persevered to be humble and never had to prove his worth nor had to prove the other was wrong. This great warrior was named the one who killed the white buffalo cow. Wa’O hola which means respect for oneself, family, community, and a higher power. We have come a long way from destruction and defeat but yet we stand untied as one force to become Americanized.
I look at the one who kills the buffalo cow with respect. I see a man who was brave and lived in a time of life where things were hard, he probably felt defeated yet pushed forward in a world full of hurt but he stood strong for his people and was a leader who did all he could to protect his family not only did he have Humility, perseverance, bravery, but had generosity in his heart. This is my great, great, great, great grandfather.
True Fact: He was from Lower Brule, this reservation is one of the seven bands of the Teton Lakota tribes. Known as the Sichangu Oyate or Burnt Thighs Nation. The name means burnt, it is said to be believed that there was a huge fire and they were running for their lives this is why we inherited the name burnt thighs.
Food for thought: Did you know that Lower Brule and Rosebud were once one nation and one big tiyospaye (family)tribe that was split into two? Rosebud moved south and Lower Brule moved a bit north. This is said to be due to land issues that were taken from our people and broke apart our large tiyospaye (family).
I am happy that I am sharing the stories I have within my family. I am proud to be a Lakota Woman. I couldn’t be more thankful to learn and express my feelings on what has effected all of us here in the United States of America. I want to encourage everyone to read books about Sitting Bull and what he did. Other good books are on Crazy Horse. Crow Dog was a chief as well and was from Lower Brule, stories about him are interesting as well.
Fun words to learn today are: Tiyospaye-means Family Tatanka-means Buffalo God Yum-means unborn son I hope you all enjoyed learning about my ancestors today. I look forward to sharing more about my culture as a Lakota woman. Thanks for checking out my blog. Have a wonderful day to all my Tiyospaye and fellow visitors. I sure do appreciate the time you took to check me out.