Glossary of Dakota Words

A glossary of a few important Dakota words

WAKAN – is the central word in the Dakota/Lakota tradition. All human art bears the ‘mark’ of the artist. So, all things created have the print, the touch, of the Creator. Whatever ‘power’, whatever WAKAN or talent you have is only a divine power ‘shared’ with you by your Creator, Tunkasina.

TUNKASINA – Grandfather. Humans call God by many names. No name exhausts the greatness of the Creator. Dakota prefer to all Him “Grandfather”. The grandfather is gentle, forgiving and generous.

WAKINYAN -- the Thunderer, the one who is the voice of God. The combination of two words WAKAN and EYA. HOLY and HE SPEAKS. He is the voice, the messenger, the teacher, the judge of the people. When he speaks there must a listening and a full obedience. If missionaries had first learned the Dakota language and had respected the connection between God and People, they would have seen the prefigure of Jesus in WAKINYAN. They might then have said, "You know Wakinyan? How wonderful! Tell us about Him. We know Him, too, and in our language we call Him Messiah, the one who teaches, heals, saves!!! He really came to earth, too. And we have His life on earth to tell you about." But....... (The symbol of WAKINYAA is the Eagle, of all things the highest, the nearest to God.)

WAKANTANKA. Also a combination of two words WAKAN = The Mystery TANKAN = The Greatest of all.

INYAN – The Rock. The first thing made by the Creator. In the Rock are all the elements that make up living beings. When heat is added to Rock, it begins to glow; it seems to move. When water is poured on it, out of it bursts the vitality that makes living things grow.

HUNKA -- a relative This ceremony is for those TOKAPI (strangers) who are new to the camp. In a generic way everyone is a ‘relative’ to each other, but the HUNKA ceremony includes the new member in a special way.

HUNKAYAPI -- equals all the members of a camp.

OKODAKICIYE -- this word was invented to define “Church”.
          KODA – friend
          KICIYE – make themselves
          O -- the place, the way, the time they do this.

So…… OKODAKICIYE   literally means     WHERE THEY MAKE THEMSELVES FRIENDS.
                             Note the “active” movement of this word.
                             They do it. They do it first; then, if there
                             is a rift, they recollect the group.

INIPI -- They live again. NI is ‘to live” INI is the intensive of ‘to live’. To live again, to resurrect.

WACIPI -- A community Dance begun with prayer. WACI = dance PI = plural.

OTUHAN -- the sycamore tree. Great tall tree, usually along streams. Chosen for its height and used to lift the Sun Dancers high to the Creator.

TACAN EKATAN –

to “touch his body” or “to count coup”. For Indian people war was more a contest than a conflict. It was a test between men. The Women Warriors were the healers. First, they cautioned the boys about cruelty and harming someone. Then, when harm did come, they were the ones who followed and healed the injuries.

Resources

The Sioux by Royal Hasrick, U. of Oklahoma Press, Norman

Oglala Religion by William K. Powers, U. of Nebraska Press, Lincoln

The Sacred Vision by M.F. Steltenkamp, Paulist Press, NY

Modern Indian Psychology by John F. Bryde, U. of South Dakota, Vermillion

The Spiritual Legacy of the American Indian by J.E. Brown, Crossroad, NY

Warriors of the Plains by Thomas E. Mails, Doubleday, NY

The Gift of the Sacred Pipe by J.E. Brown, U. of Oklahoma, Norman

Black Elk Speaks, Pocket Books, NY

The Sacred Pipe, Penguin Books, NY

Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions, Pocket Books, NY

Lakota Ritual and Beliefs, U. of Nebraska Press, Lincoln

Legends of the Lakota, Indian Historian Press, San Francisco

VIDEO: Panel about all Races Thirty minutes. FREE

Excellent for either individual or group viewing.
Call American Indian Culture Research Center (605) 398-9200

                                By:   Rev. Stanislaus Maudlin, OSB
                                        Wambdi Wicasa    Eagle Man
                                        American Indian Culture Research Center
                                        Blue Cloud Abbey

Notes and elaborations were added to the text of LAKOTA LIVING