Wocekiye (Lakota: Wočhékiye) is a Lakota language term meaning "to call on for aid," "to pray," and "to claim relationship with".[1] It refers to a practice among Lakota people engaged in both the traditional Lakota religion as well as forms of Christianity.

Central to the Lakota's spiritual practice is Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka, or the Great Mystery. Their primary cultural prophet is Ptesáŋwiŋ, White Buffalo Calf Woman, who came as an intermediary between Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka and humankind to teach them how to be good relatives by introducing the Seven Sacred Rites and the čhaŋnúŋpa (sacred pipe).

The traditional social system of the Sioux (Očhéthi Šakówiŋ) extended beyond human interaction into the supernatural realms.[2] It is believed that Wakȟáŋ Tháŋka ("Great Spirit/Great Mystery") created the universe and embodies everything in the universe as one. The preeminent symbol of Sioux religion is the Čhaŋgléska Wakȟaŋ ("sacred hoop"), which visually represents the concept that everything in the universe is intertwined.

Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka

See also: List of Lakota deities

The creation stories of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ describe how the various spirits were formed from Wakȟáŋ Tháŋka.[3] Black Elk describes the relationships with Wakȟáŋ Tháŋka as:

"We should understand well that all things are the works of the Great Spirit. We should know that He is within all things: the trees, the grasses, the rivers, the mountains, and all the four-legged animals, and the winged peoples; and even more important, we should understand that He is also above all these things and peoples. When we do understand all this deeply in our hearts, then we will fear, and love, and know the Great Spirit, and then we will be and act and live as He intends".[4]

Beneficial spirits

There are sixteen Wakȟáŋpi of the Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka, which are arranged into groups of four and ranked according to their group.

Superior spirits:

Associate spirits:

Subordinate spirits:

Inferior spirits:

Malevolent spirits

The Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka Šíča are Malevolent (or indifferent) spirits, and follow in rough order of rank:

There are also a variety of other spirits in the world. They are indifferent to humans, but may cause harm, or be convinced to help humans.

Types of medicine and holy people

Common Beliefs

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Riggs, Stephen Return "A Dakota - English Dictionary" Government Printing Office. 1890.
  2. ^ Ruml, Mark (2010). "Mitákuye Owás'į (All My Relatives): Dakota Wiconi (Way of Life) and Wicozani Waste (Well-Being)". Aboriginal Policy Research. 6 (3–4). Thompson Educational Publishing: 187–202.
  3. ^ Dooling, D. M. (2000). The sons of the wind : the sacred stories of the Lakota. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3224-2. OCLC 42708159.
  4. ^ Elk, Black (1953). The sacred pipe : Black Elk's account of the seven rites of the Oglala Sioux. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-2124-6. OCLC 772729.
  5. ^ Posthumus, David C. 2018. "All My Relatives: Exploring Lakota Ontology, Belief and Ritual." The University of Nebraska Press and the American Philosophical Society.
  6. ^ Neihardt, John G. & Deloria, Phillip J. Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition 2014.
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