“Ask an Elder”
There are many questions and few elders. This blog will be populated with your Q&A found in the comments.
Please comment with your questions and we’ll promote this blog to the Sioux elders who may have the answers that you seek.
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Hello, just have some concerns about my 3 kids, There father is from the rosebud tribe in SD, but he was raised by a family in NC, So that makes my kids 3/4 souix, The concern is, They no longer have any contact with their father, a story i do not want to go into, but my kids have lost touch with their culture, an family. I need help with getting them back into the native american ways…….
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The best way to do that is to get involved with a local tribe in your area. Since the pau wau (powwow) is mostly derived from the Northern Plains culture, you shouldn’t have a problem getting them acquainted with it as most tribes copy the tradition. Also, if you know for sure he is Rosebud Sioux and know his last name, there should be some kind of enrollment process to get them back to their nation. Although, I don’t see how you come out with 3/4 Sioux. They will only get half from him. 🙂
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Hi my name is jaime I have a question and favor I have a dream catcher for many years and works really good for me but not from my wife she can sleep because of bad dreams me my wife will need help with this problem thank you 1 more question does the dreamcatcher need to be cleaned
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Hey i have a quick question. I have disendency from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota tribe. My Grandmother is full blooded Dakota and a member to the tribe. I was wondering who i should talk to about learning more of my culture and heritage?
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Greetings. I’m trying to trace my ancestry all the way back to the Pleiades. If you recognize any of these names to be of Sioux origin, please contact me at nickandajsmom@gmail.com? St. Pierre Poitras, Marie E. Brammir, Baptiste DesJarlais, Marie Martaine, Joseph John O’Connor, Marie F. Raymonds, Unknown Faverau, Mary Madeline Reed
Nvwatohiyadv = Peace To All My Relations
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hello to all im in search of someone that can instruct me as to who i need to talk to, to get all native peoples togather. i am 1/2 cherokee/choctaw , and im looking to return all lands back to all native peoples but i can only do so with the support of all native people. this is not a joke or scam, and can be done, if there is enough support. how do i get leaders togsther to talk about this? its time we stood up and get our lands back they were stolen must be returned and i know how this can be done. can anyone help me? thank you whispering whirlwind.
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Hello,
I would like to find my Dad. I lost him becouse some evil people kidnapped me from NYC when I was a little baby. I think my Dad in the member of the sioux tribe maybe lakota oglala. I was born in 06-21-1960 or (61-62). I gave the Mary-Katie (Maria-Katalin) name but I do not know my last name which is my Dad’s name. My Dad believe I am died becouse the evils told him the ship was sink under the Atlantic Ocean. My Mum’s parents arrived from Hungary becouse there was a revolution in 10-23-1956. They were jewish. And my Mum felt in love a native Man who would be my Dad. As you know the jewish hate all natives. The old time the jewish organized the plague blankets, the sawdusted bread and they want to cut the long hairs becouse the long hair is the powerest weapon for the natives. All natives let their hair long. Look Samson! It is seriously. So who want to help me to find my Dad? I want to live and work in the States please help me to do this. I want to find my Dad he alive nowtime. I feel in my soul and in my heart. Thanks for the answer! Hoka Hey Ta-Shunka-Witko come back again and White Buffalo Calf Woman come back again. The two persons are one Soul so they are the one she will come.
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A coyote stood watching me as we passed by. The dancers were chanting. The grass was long and yellow. This is what I saw. I know all that was really there was the yellow grass but now years later, I still hear the dancers. Ravens follow me now and I wonder what it all means.
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Hello…. May this find you walking with Beauty and Honor….
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Hello. My given name is Margot, I’m a European. I have been learning a lot about the Lakota through the years and feel connected to the tribe since I was a little girl. I strongly believe I had a life before this one amongst the Lakota and have given myself a Nature Name. I’m not sure if that is the correct one though. I would like to get in touch with this tribe now and I know that cannot be done from a distance, let me say different continents. I have to visit the tribe in person to do so. But my question is really, is it possible to just visit the reservation as a complete stranger and still be taken in like one of your own members? I have been studying the Lakota language, the philosophy and customs/rituals of the tribe as well. I even conduct the ceremonies and practice these traditions here, at home, by myself. I have come to notice we, as human beings around the world, are missing tribal life. All of our lives have become so hectic, stressful and don’t leave a space for harmony. I want to change that. I want to serve. I was hoping, Grandfather, if you could give me some advice. Mitakuye oyasin. Pilamaya yelo.
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I donk now if your still interested in doing this but get back to me if you still want to i am part of many ceremonies and i am a member of the Sacred Horse Society
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Hey! What a good vehicle to information and culture. My name is Jurandir, I’m 35 old and live in southern Brazil. I would like to ask for a Lakota elder about the prophecies. How do you see the Pte Ska Win legend in the present days? How do you see the participation of outsiders like me in these matters? And, it’s possible an outsider like me to have a real connection with you Lakota People? Thanks a lot for responding. Waste!
(jurandirfagundes@gmail.com)
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I would like to know more about my Sioux heratige. Is there anybody who can help with this? I would also like to meet Sioux people, I live in San Marcos Texas.
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My name is Ronda Kay Pirtle Jacobs, my mothers maiden name was Nisbet. I was told by my grandfather that we were the 6th generation of Sitting BUll, would like to know more about the tribe we come from and my culture so that I may had it down to my grandchildren. Have always been called half breed, but am proud to be Native American.
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I would like to know what my souix name would be my names is: Jo Ann Switzer born august 18,1959 My grand mother was full blooded souix native american. i am round to be her greatgrand daughter. Thank you for your time souix elder.
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It would be a wonderful thing to have a souix name I wish I would have had a chance to meet my great grandmother she passed before I could she was full bloodied Souix native american.
My name is Jo Ann and I love flowers and nature i have admired native american people since I was just a little girl, When I would pass by the gift shop I would always ask my mom and dad to get moccisans and I would wear them tll they wore out. this was when we were every going up north. So maybe before my dad actually told me that I had a great grandmother that was Souix I had this close feeling that I belonged :-).
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Proud to be her great grand daughter.
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I have seen some of my spirit animals. I went to a woman here in texas, she learned from the elders of her tribe and she was able to help me to find my guides. Since then I have seen more and more visions. I feel as though Im on the wrong path here and would like someone to tell me what my visions mean. I have seen other things as well. But would like to start with the first to appear for it sticks in my mind more then the rest has been one I can still see from time to time, two wolves. When my guides where revealed to me the second spirit was the wolf. Another one was a white hawk that came to me in a dream, In the dream I had two guides both resembled Souix warriors and it was they that told me he was one of the my guide. He protects my male/right side.
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Wrong path as in what im doing, not wrong path with the medicine woman. She has been of a great help.
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Hello and many blessings. I am a Navy Veteran who is blessed enough to have a council that has set up, through the VA Hospital, a healing Sweat Lodge. I am very grateful yet there is much debate going around right now regarding smudging while pregnant. Some believe it is a medicine and is safe while others are argue that smudging will cause miscarriage. As the pregnant woman I am caught in the middle. I have stopped going into lodge but being part of the ceremony is important to me and so is the health of my unborn baby. Can you advise on the subject and educate on the history of our people? Thank you for your time and I look forward to reading up on the topic.
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I am trying to trace my Friend. He said, he was from Standing Rock. His English name was Marvin Speorl, His native name was “Great Runner of the Wolves. I inquired at Standing Rock
once and they could not find him on the Tribal Rolls. I don’t know if this is right, but his Native
name was Swickiwany Tankawany Kea
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Hello again Grandfather.
Now, more than ever before, I know I belong and have belonged to your tribe in a previous life. You might be asking why, not without a cause I imagine, but I’ll tell you.
I was trying to get some sleep one night, and did a particular breathing exercise, and within 5 minutes I was visited by a medicine man of your tribe. I don’t know if he was past or present or future even, but I had the feeling he was present. I could only see his mask before my eyes. Bright blue and red it shone. There were other presences there, I don’t know (and still don’t know any names or heard any sound), I just had the feeling the mask of blue and red was telling me to stop using drugs (marijuana in my country, comparable with peyote in yours). It took me some time but now I’m completely off the drug and still trying to accomplish a community living in harmony with each other and nature. After years, let’s say 4 years now, I still haven’t come closer to my goal, but given some time I believe I will achieve a community living in harmony with each other AND nature. I guess it’s just a matter of persistence and acting on what you believe in, right?
Pilamaya yelo, especially for hearing me out and taking the time to read my post.
Mitakuye oyasin
Chanhiya Ehanamani
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When faced with making a life changing choice is it best to follow the mind or the heart? I need to make a choice which will change my life drastically . My mind says one thing and my heart another. Feeling torn. Need guidance from an Elder. I thank you and appreciate any advice .
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Hi, my name is Alicia and I have a question. Here recently I’ve had an issue on where I’m living. My father is from the Sioux Tribe and he wants to contact the tribe to help take me away from my mother. The question I have is, is it right for him to ask the Tribe to rip me apart from the only person who raised me. My father killed my killed my little brother almost 10 years ago so he can’t be around any minors (though he wasn’t charged for the murder) and he was constantly in jail. In all honesty I would rather kill myself (not joking I’m battling suicidal demons due to his actions) than live with him. Would the tribe really help my father??
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My husband and I both have native ancestry and live native but look more white. My question for the elders is how do we become more accepted as native people because this is where we belong despite the fact that we are not full bloods?
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There is a compulsion inside me to want to help the children. Where is the most need that a non-Native can help monetarily? I’ve done research and find “compassionate” groups, but they either spend most of the donations on advertising for more donations, or attempt to assimilate /change the Nations.
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When we were at Woonded Knee two weeks ago, we had contact with an elder who told us about things and guided people there on a regular basis. Does anyone hav his contact details (his son was with the local security)? Thanks.
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I am very much love all native cultures and want to learn more and help in ways i might be able to. I am a full blood white man, but do not follow or believe in the ways of what the whites have done. i know i can not become an native but wish to learn and contribute to these cultures. let me know how? paul g. steffen.
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I would like to know if a man, a white man, like me can be so utterly confused, disgusted and ashamed with my own race on what they have become and what they have done to “all” peoples of this country and also to the world. what should i do and believe in?
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My elders health is declining. He is struggling with the fact he can’t be there for his people as he once was as a younger man. He shares his knowledge and does what he can. How can I help him not to feel like he’s letting his people down?
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Is anyone able to tell me the origin of the Lakota Prayer, ‘Teach me how to trust’?
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I have a question for anyone who feels they can answer. I just got through reading an article written by a white college girl. She says in the article that anyone who is not in her words “Native American,” should not use the term “Spirit Animal” as she says it is being culturally insensitive. Now being white myself am I wrong to feel that this article is nonsense? Or should I be more sensitive to such terms? I’m just wondering. I myself have had many experiences with different animal totems and I look at them as being messages sent to me, But am I wrong for using the term Spirit Animal?
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Peace, be with you. My situation is this, my older sister married into the Lakota and, has since passed to the other side. Her remains were cremated so no Earth bound enclave holds her. I was given her Coup Stick, and have it displayed humbly and honorably in my home. I do realize the significance of this personal sacred item, but do not know cultural policy the Lakota place on such. To my knowledge, my sister did not designate the Coup Stick to anyone in her family; both sides. As aforementioned, she was cremated and her worldly things were disperse by order of relationship
E.g. her kids seeking monetary and memory momento.
Be it known, my sis was a strong, forward thinking woman and was not afraid, in my opinion…a warrior. I consider it an honor to have her representation of strength in a place of honor in my home. But none- the- less, I am not sure if I may rightfully hold on to it in accordance with Lakota tradition.
If I may use a (so to speak) “Wild Card,” I am Lakota, assimilated by Ms. Renee’ Jones of St. Paul Minnesota, Great-Great-Great Grand Niece of Ohiyese. She passed this honor to me when I worked at BIA in Minneapolis. If this has merit then good.
Please advise me on this, I will make good on your recommendation.
Regards
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Good afternoon, the question I have is in regards to respect and honor. I am not Native American, but my lady is. Recently she hung her eagle feather high on our wall in the living room. She told me that she did so because she has chose me to be her man. I am completely filled with honor for her doing so, and I would like to know the proper way to show the respect and honor that she so richly deserves? I thank you for your time and wish you a blessed day.
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