The Dakota Peoples

Book excerpt: The Dakota people, alternatively referred to as Sioux Native Americans or Oceti Sakowin (The People of the Seven Council Fires), have a storied history that extends to a time well before the arrival of European settlers. This work offers a comprehensive history of the Dakota people and is largely based on eyewitness accounts from the Dakota themselves, including legends, traditions, and winter counts. Included are detailed analyses of the various divisions (tribes and bands) of the Dakota people, including the Lakota and Nakota tribes. Topics explored include the Dakotas' early government, the role of women within the Dakota tribes, the rituals and rites of the Dakota people, and the influence of the white man in destroying Dakotan culture.