In this Culture Section of the module you will be introduced to the world of the Teton Sioux, also known as the Lakota. Most people have heard of the famous Sioux warriors, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud and Sitting Bull. If you slow down and absorb the stories told here, you will begin to understand that the Lakota are so much more than warriors of the 19th century.

Lakota oral history will help you understand a very different perspective on history and culture from the one taught in schools. Keep your mind open, ask questions, and explore the world of the Lakota through their eyes.

As you tour through this section you will learn about the lifeway during buffalo days and about lasting qualities that characterize Lakota Culture - about family life and the life of all things through the seasons, about religion, and trade and travel - told through the stories that hold the culture together.

The many changes that accompanied the arrival of traders and trappers, including the Long Knives, are included within the section called U.S. Remember to think about the story from the point of view of the Lakota people. How did they see their lives change after the arrival of traders, missionaries, treaty commissioners and agents, miners, and the American military? Despite the devastation brought by these various groups, whether intentionally or due to uncontrollable circumstances, the Lakota have survived.

Contemporary Lakota culture, including artists, education, and issues of sovereignty are included with the section called Native American.

Background: Lewis & Clark 1806, adapted from Moulton, 1983