There are two ways to transmit Religion and Morals: 1. By Story and Example.. i.e. alive and personal.
2. By Creed (Dogma, Article) and by Law, i.e. static and impersonal. 

Since Dakota Religion and Morals were transmitted by story and example, it is impossible to discover a formulated Theology of the Dakota. Transmission by Myth excludes this kind of formulation. Do not seek exact correspondence between this explanation and an explanation you hear from another source. THE MESSAGE IS THE THING. 

Today it is very difficult (impossible ?) to separate "original" Dakota Theology from that which is tinted by Christian overlay. 

Dakota Theology - - Holistic, Animistic, Aware of Spirit. 

WAKAN -- a very important word, the meaning of which is hard to capture -- holy, sacred, spirit, mysterious. 

Outline of Revelation : 

1. Creation -- by Wakantanka. Sends his seed down on Mother Earth. Every creature, therefore, has holiness. Identified as POWER or POWERS. 

2. Union with God. Hambleciya (Crying in the Night) Vision Quest. Conversion. 

3. Sin -- is the faulting of power given, or identified, in the vision quest. 

4. Satisfaction -- through Fasting, Sweat Baths, and renewal of Hambleciya Satisfaction for whole community accomplished in Sun Dance. 

5. Priesthood -- the Wicasa Wakan. This man is chosen by God and marked by Him. Has many powers. 

6. Prayer -- marked by Thanksgiving. Use many natural things to put one in the pre-sense of God. Prayer Bones, Prayer Stones, Prayer Shield, Holy Places, Sacred Pipe. 

7. The After-life. Where-the-Good-People-Are. Only word indicating Hell is TOKA, meaning Stranger, or someone outside the circle. 

8. WAKINYAN -- He Who Speaks Holy -- the Thunderbird. Every People has a representation of this Being, who is between God and Man. He is the Guide, the Messenger, the Teacher, the Counselor, the Judge. 

In God's plan, we Christians were supposed to have brought the knowledge of the Savior. If this had happened, according to God's plan, Christianity could have built strongly on the revelation which the Dakota had already received. 

"Christ himself searched the hearts of men and led them to divine light through truly human conversation. So also his disciples profoundly penetrated by the Spirit of Christ, should know the people among whom they live, and should establish contact with them. Thus they themselves can learn by sincere and patient dialogue what treasures a bountiful God has distributed among the nations of the earth."
. . . . (Document on the Missions - Vatican II)