Inspiration Thursday: The Sioux

Inspiration can come from anywhere, as I have had said on numerous posts. This week I am reading an amazing book that was recommended by a friend, “Waterlily” by Ella Cara Deloria. This is a fictional account of life with the Sioux Indian tribe before the white man came. The author had grown up in the Yanton group of Sioux in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s and wrote this tale in the 1940′s. She wanted to tell the story of the Sioux woman living a pure traditional way of life in the camp circle.

I am just blown away by this book. First of all, the culture of this tribe seems so sensitive, full of gratitude and respect. I was recently telling a friend about this, and he said,”Well, we romanticize their culture.” Maybe we do, but there are so many fine traditions and customs mentioned, that I doubt this is a fairy tale.

The tribe had to watch its back at all times against other tribes, weather, drought, hunger, yet they were filled with gratitude and respect. So many customs were handed down by the telling of tales. One example is a story teller that would visit camp circle after camp circle. The adults were filled with awe of this man and prepared for his visit with the making of gifts and talking about him with the children. This story teller’s name was Woyaka and he was rigorously trained by his grandfather in the art of telling the tales of their people. He was their living history teller and was revered and respected for this role. One tale he tells is of when the tribe was starving and needed to eat before they had horses to help them with the hunt. The people employed a holy man to summon the buffalo. He did it through a spiritual connection with the animal and the buffalo came to the people. The people were so happy that they had food, they thanked the buffalo. After enough buffalo was killed to feed the tribe, the tribe leaders called it to a halt. Here is what the leaders said, ” Stop! It is enough. Our friends (referring to the buffalo)have kept their vow; once again they have extended hospitality to us.Let us kill no more than we need. It is enough.”

Wait a minute, did I read correctly? Take only what you need???? You mean they weren’t going to corral all the buffalo and make corporate farms so they can make as much money as possible???? Appreciate the animal that gives you food, wow what a concept!!
Another incident in the book is when the women go to gather earth beans and they leave extra food for the mice because by taking the beans away from the mice, the mice may not have enough food to survive.
These people had respect and mindfulness before they became popular buzz words. There was an appreciation for the elders, the children, the animals, the earth and all that surrounded them. They were mindful of their now, just as the popular self help books preach.
And their culture was wiped out, I feel so, so sad about that.

Read more at: Clouds.