The Lakota Nation: 1800’s

On a hot summer day over the Great Plains, their stood two young men by the name of Talking River and Little Creek, they are brothers. As they were riding across the Great Plains they had stopped and got off their "tusuhnke" (horses) and got on their stomachs and crawled over the hill, they both looked over and saw ten "wasicha" (white men) with guns and their "winyan" (women). So they got up slowly, got back on their horses and rode back to their village. They told "ithanchan" (chief) EE-Shah-Konee what that have seen. So he told his "ozuyes" (warriors).

"Ride and meet them, they are probably fur traders," said Chief EE-Shah-Konee.

"Or they want our land?" asked Talking River getting on his horse.

Little Creek and Chief EE-Shah-Konee got on their horses and on their way to see theses

"wasicha" (white men).

"So this is Lakota territory?” asked Joseph.

"Yes now these Natives are thieves, and I would keep those women close," said George.

"Why?" asked Danny.

"You don't want to know why," said George.

"Tell me, I want to know?" asked Danny.

"They'll take them away, or kill them, or even make them their own," said George.

"We'll we won't let that happen," said Joseph cleaning his gun.

"You can't beat them; the Lakota people will have us wiped out. There are more of them than you think, twice as much as the Apaches," said George getting up from sitting.

So when the white people were doing what they wanted the Lakota's were all lined up on the hill. Joseph saw the Lakota's first and yelled,

INDIANS!

You can tell that the "wasicha" (white men) were afraid.

So the white eyes started to run for their guns as usual and came back and starred at the Lakota warriors for a while. Then the warriors came down the hill and arrived inside the white man’s camp and got off their horses.

"What are you doing here, Joseph translate that so they can understand?" asked George.

"We speak very well english," said Little Creek.

"Good, now tell me what you’re doing here on our camp?" asked George.

"We ask same question, what are you doing here on Lakota lands," asked Chief EE-Shah-Konee?"Danny tell them," said George.

"Oh, we'll we are fur traders, yeah we're fur traders," said Danny.

"I don't believe these "wasicha" (white men) they are liars," whispered Little Creek.

Talking River told Chief EE-Shah-Konee that his brother and he were going to look around the camp.

"Hey where are y'all going, get back here, or I will shoot y'all both," said Danny.

"No, don't shoot, they'll have us slaughtered," said George.

So Talking River and Little Creek went around the camp, Talking River saw a table with what looked like hair. Talking River thought it was Mexican hair, then he got a closer look, he picked it up and it was shiny and oily to the touch, it wasn't Mexican hair, it was Indian hair. Talking River grabbed all of them and showed it his little brother.

"Ha ho" (look at this)?" asked Talking River in the Lakota language.

"Takulua nunwa" (what is it)?" asked Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"It’s Indian hair, these "wasicha" (white men) are not fur traders, they are scalp hunters," Talking River said in the Lakota language furiously.

So they ran back and started talking to Chief EE-Shah-Konee in Lakota.

"I told you these "wasicha" (white men) were liars, this is Indian hair, not fur traders, but scalp hunters," said Little Creek. Chief EE-Shah-Konee looked straight at the white men and back at his warriors. They got on their horses and Chief EE-Shah-Konee said,

"We will be back tomorrow."

So the white eyes turned around and Danny asked.

"Joseph go back and check on the ladies?" asked Danny.

"Okay, I'll check on the scalps to," said Joseph.

But what they didn't know was Talking River put the scalps in his bag before he went back to tell Chief EE-Shah-Konee. Joseph checked on the ladies and then we walked over and saw the table was empty.

"THE SCALPS ARE GONE," shouted Joseph.

"What do you mean gone?" asked Danny.

"Those savages stole them?" asked George.

"Yes," said Joseph.

"Well they will be back," said George.

The Lakota's showed the Indian hair to their village. The next morning Chief EE-Shah-Konee gathered most of his warriors and went to meet the white eyes once again. As the women were cooking and bathing the men, one of the younger women looked up and screamed.

All the men came running out with their guns.

"What's wrong?" asked Danny out of breath.

The young lady pointed towards the hills, they all looked and it was the Lakota warriors all lined up and war paint on. Chief EE-Shah-Konee looked at Talking River and nodded his head. Talking River raised his hand and yelled they started to ride down the hill and into the white man’s camp. All the men started firing and some Lakota warriors jumped off their horses and landing on the men killing them.

Chief EE-Shah-Konee was on the hill watching his warriors. They killed the white men and burned the camp down. The warriors took the women and tied them up and walked as the warriors rode their horses. When they arrived to their village Little Creek said,

"Le-anpetu washte" (this is a good day)," Little Creek said in the Lakota language.

"Hau, anpetu washte" (yes, it is a good day)," answered Talking River in the Lakota language.

So when they took the "wasicun winyan" (white women, in Lakota language). When they to them to the village the Indian women and their "wakeheja" (children, in Lakota language), were all starring at the "wasicun winyan" (white women, in Lakota language). The warriors stopped and got off their horses, they took them to the "winyan's tipi" (woman's house, in Lakota language), to dress them up. The Lakota "winyan" (women, in Lakota language), dressed them and sent them back outside to the "ozuyes" (warriors, in Lakota language).

All the women were scared and looking down, this one young lady she liked how Little Creek looked.

Her name is Katie; she looked up at Little Creek. Little Creek looked at her with confusion.

"We will see who gets who, if one gets left behind let her go, or give her away to another tribe!” shouted Talking River to all the men.

All the women were afraid, devastated, shocked, the ozuyes" (warriors, in Lakota language), grabbed the women and jerking them around like rag dolls. Most of the women were hitting, biting and kicking the warriors. Katie kicked and punched a warrior, the warrior pushed Katie knocking her down then grabbing her by the arm and dragging her, she kept twisting and turning, finally she got loose and Katie quickly got up and ran.

Little Creek ran after her, he grabbed her and jerked her towards him and turned her around about to slap her but he looked into her eyes and told the other warrior she was taken.

"You want her "hoksilla" (boy)?" asked Talking River in the Lakota language.

"Huh" (yes)," said Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"Toksha ake wacin yuanktin ktelo" (I should see you again)," said the warrior in the Lakota language.

So Little Creek pushed Katie into his brothers "tipi" (house, in Lakota language), and there were other people in there as well, and children. Little Creek asked.

"Lol wahcheen" (are you hungry)?" asked Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"He asked if you are hungry," said Talking River.

"You speak English?" asked Katie.

"Yes we all do," Said Little Creek eating.

"It's very good food," said Katie.

"Pilamaya" (thank you)," said Little Creeks mother in the Lakota language.

"Pilamaya?" asked Katie.

"Yes it means thank you in our language," said Talking River.

As the "apawi" (sun, in Lakota language), was going down it was getting "sapa" (black-dark, in Lakota language), and it was time for bed, so they all lay down and went to sleep. The next morning they all woke up and went outside, Talking River and his band of warriors went out to hunt "tutanka" (buffalo, in Lakota language), then Little Creek and Katie's started to walk out. Katie stood outside looking at the little children play house and pretend hunting, then some of the women and Talking River came back with "tutanka talo" (buffalo meat, in Lakota language).

"Lila tanyan wacin yun ke, tokek ya un he?" (cousin it is good to see you, how are you) asked Little Creek.

"Lila tanyan wa unnis tok" (I am fine and you)?" asked Talking River in the Lakota language.

"Washte" (good)," said Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"How's the "winyan" (woman) doing?" asked Talking River in the Lakota language.

"Washte" (good) she is learning fast and yours?" asked Little Creek.

"She is also learning, I took her on the hunt today, she watched the other women cut the buffalo," said Talking River.

"Washte" (good)," said Little Creek.

"Has "ina" (mother) told you to marry her or have baby's?" asked Talking River.

"Heyah, slol-wa-yea-shnee" (no, I don't know), she is my woman," said Little Creek.

"Yeah she is, it will be good we can give her an Indian name as well", said Talking River.

"Cinks" (my son) getting married and having "hoksicala's" (babies)", asked "ina" (mother) in Lakota language?

"Ina" (mother)," said Little Creek.

Little Creek walked over towards Katie has she was talking and laughing with the Indian women and the white women. He grabbed her and took her to the hills and sat her down.

"It's beautiful here," said Katie.

"What about changing your name into an Indian name?" asked Little Creek looking out onto the plains.

"Changing my name, I can do that, what will the call me?" asked Katie.

"Slol-way-shnee" (I don't know) we have to go to "unci" (grandmother)," said Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"Alright," said Katie looking back on the plains.

"Do you want to get married?" asked Little Creek.

"Yes, that is my dream to be married, I always wanted to be married," said Katie with excitement.

Little Creek looked at Katie with confusion, he thought to himself, "it was her dream to get married to an Indian." So they went back to the village and they told Chief EE-Shah-Konee that there were going to get married and then they went to bed.​

Next morning they all went outside and Chief EE-Shah-Konee said,

"Hau anpetu washte" (yes it is a good day) this "wchasha" and "winyan" (man and woman) came to be married today," said Chief EE-Shah-Konee in the Lakota language.

"Woooo," shouted Talking River.

Then they all the warriors yelled and shouted. Some wished them "washte wapi" (good luck, in Lakota language). A little "wicin" (girl, in Lakota language), gave them a "sunka" (dog, in Lakota language), to protect them or eat him when things get tough. A "hoksilla" (boy, in Lakota language), gave Katie a "wacha" (flower, in Lakota language).

"Unci" (grandmother, in Lakota language), called them to her "tipi" (house in Lakota language), and sat them down.

"Ah kay wan chec keyh ktay low" (it was good to see you again), we need to find out what your new name will be," said the old woman.

"What are we going to call her?" asked Little Creek.

"Her name is going to be Maya Doo Rider," said the grandmother.

So Katie accepted the name that was given to her. She is now called Maya Doo Rider. So they walked out of grandmother’s house and went on their way. Maya Doo Rider went with the women to clean the buffalo meat. As Maya Doo Rider was cleaning the meat she looked up and saw her husband playing with the boys a teaching them along the way. As "ozuyes" (warriors, in Lakota language), came back from the stream, one of the warriors nearly fell off his horse; Talking River ran towards the warrior and caught him before he hit the ground.

Talking River helped the warrior to his "tipi" (house), the warrior was bleeding badly, he had been shot in the "tezi" (stomach) in the Lakota language.

"What happened?" asked Little Creek running inside the "tipi" (house).

"Tohan" (when) we were hunting near the stream some "wasicha" (white man) came after us and shot at us, hitting him, then more of them started to chase us," said the "ozuyes" (warrior) in the Lakota language.

Little Creek and Talking River looked at each other and nodded their heads; they both got up and went outside.

"So were going to "kte wasicha" (kill the white men)?" asked Little Creek in the Lakota language.

"Hin" (yes)," said Talking River in the Lakota language.

"Takula nunwe, tokhiya la hunwo" (what is it, where are you going)?" asked Maya Doo Rider.

"Kte wasicha" (kill the white men)," said Little Creek.

"Ohan, I yotan chila" (alright, I love you)," said Maya Doo Rider.

"I yotan chila" (I love you to)," said Little Creek.

"Let's go," said Talking River.

So Talking River jumped on the warrior’s horse and Little Creek jumped on his horse and rode to the white man’s camp. They stopped and saw smoke, they knew they were close. So they rode some more and got off the horses and crawled on their bellies, they looked down and saw the white men, so they crawled back to their horses. They jumped on the horses and yelled, they rode down the hills towards the white man’s camp.

The white men looked and saw Talking River and Little Creek, so they got up and started shooting at them. Little Creek rode his horse and jumped off and landed on a white man killing him and then the other white men were all dead and scalped. So they took some things and went back to the village. When they rode up to the village Maya Doo Rider was waiting for Little Creek.

"How is the man doing?" asked Talking River.

"Washte" (good)," said Maya Doo Rider in the Lakota language.

"Good, you’re learning fast" said Talking River.

"Are you both alright," asked Maya Doo Rider looking them over.

"Yes we're fine," said Little Creek.

"I have to tell you something," said Maya Doo Rider with a smile.

"What?" asked Little Creek.

"We're going to have a "hoksicala" (baby)," Maya Doo Rider said with excitement.

Little Creek yelled with joy and picked her up and twirled her around. Then she went about her day. Little Creek walked towards the grassy hills of the Great Plains and sat down with a smile on his face. Talking River came walking up from behind and sat down next to Little Creek.

"Toka he hwo" (what's wrong), why are you smiling like that?" asked Talking River in the Lakota language.

"I am going to be a father," said Little Creek.

"Ate, washte, lila washte, hokahey, anosoptan" (father, good, very good, pay attention, and listen), you tell him our stories, teach him or her our ways of living and surviving, for there will come a time when our ways of life will disapear," said Talking River.

"I will," said Little Creek.

"Washte" (good)," said Talking River.

So they both went back to camp and went inside the "tipi" (house) and it was getting dark, so they went to bed and fell asleep. When everybody was a sleep Little Creek was dreaming a bad dream and he was talking in his dream. Maya Doo Rider woke him up and he fell back to sleep.

​

Next morning Little Creek woke up and went outside and sat down on the grassy plains on a hill looking out on to the plains.

"Unci" (grandmother) followed Little Creek and sat down next to him.

"Tell me about your dream?" asked Grandmother with a soft voice.

"I had a dream about our child, and it was a boy. As he got older and strong he became a man and had a child of his own, but I was not there to see it, something happened," told Little Creek.

"What happened?" asked Grandmother.

"The white men came to our camp and took our strong warriors away; they started shooting at our camp. Children were running, some children got shot along with their mothers and the old ones. Next thing I know they are taking the survivors to a fort, they put us in cages like animals. Then the whites grabbed me and threw me into a black hole with a Grizzly bear, then Talking River was covered in blood, I don't know what happened after that," said Little Creek.

"You will know when that day comes," said Grandmother.

They both walked back to the village and Maya Doo Rider was really pregnant she looked like she was going to have twins. She was preparing food with the other women. As the food was done they all gathered and ate, Talking River had something to say.

"Today our chief is very sick, with these feast we will honor our chief," Talking River sitting down and eating.

Chief EE-Shah Konee asked for Talking River and Little Creek to come to his "tipi" (house).

"Tokeke ya un he" (how are you)?" asked Chief Ee-Shah-Konee.

"Lila tanyan wa un nis tok" (I am fine and you)?" asked Talking River.

Little Creek walks inside.

"Little Creek my son, I want you and Maya Doo Rider to have the best times and years while you can," said Chief Ee-Shah-Konee.

"What do you mean?" asked Little Creek.

"Unci" (grandmother) came to my "tipi" (house) and told me about the dream you had. Talking River my son, I want you to become Chief of the Lakota people," said Chief Ee-Shah-Konee.

"I would be honoured," Talking River taking the staff.

"Now go, I have said all i needed to say, I will see you on the other side," said Chief EE-Shah-Konee.

So they turned around and walked outside. When the time came Chief Ee-Shah-Konee died, he is now with his ancestors. The next night Maya Doo Rider gave birth to "cincala" (child), a "hoksicala hoksila" (baby boy). As he grew, Little Creek taught him everything. He hunts "tutanka's" (buffalos) with the other men.

As Little Creek was inside his "tipi" (house) he got up and called for his son. His son came and went inside.

"Son, I had a dream long ago, which the Lakota people were happy and prosperous, but then change came to the Lakota people, the “wasicha were “sota” (white men were many). I am glad that I lived this long to see you grow up into a man, and may you have many children," said Little Creek.

Grey Eagle just looked at Little Creek with confusion and walked away outside. Then it started getting dark and everyone was asleep. ​As they were sleeping Grey Eagle was woken up by a noise outside, so he quietly got up and poked his head out and looked around. He saw "sota waschia" (many white men) on horses, Grey Eagle grabbed his knife from behind; Talking River grabbed his arm gently and shook his head. Talking River went outside then all the women, and children and men came out. ​

​​

"What do you want here?" asked Talking River.

"Were moving injuns to our forts," said soldier one.

"We're not going anywhere," said Talking River crossing his arms.

Some of the "akichita" (soldiers) were looking at some of the "wasicun women" (white women) they had and started smiling at them. Talking River whispered into his wife's ear telling her to take the women and children and the old ones to the hills before the fight started. One soldier was looking at Maya Doo Rider, Grey Eagle stared at the white man and so did Little Creek.

"What's wrong red man, afraid I'm going to steal your woman?" asked a soldier getting off his horse.

Little Creek got his knife out and threw it into the soldiers face. Then guns started to go off. The "winyan" (women) started to scream and run with their children. As Little Creek was fighting he saw his son fight as well, when the battle was over Little Creek looked up across the plains and saw many more whites, he quickly looked at his son and nodded telling him to run and go with the women and children. The warriors fought again, this time many Native Indians were killed.

The soldiers gathered the wounded and left the dead, and tied the wounded up behind their horses and made them walk to their fort. All the women and children looked back and saw smoke, but no more guns firing, so they all came down from hiding. ​

​

"Mother, they are gone, we have to go after them," said Grey Eagle franticly.

"How there are too many?" asked an old Indian man.

"Slol wa yea shnee" (I don't know)?" asked Grey Eagle.

So as some of the Lakota people were at the fort in cages. One of the soldiers asked Little Creek to stand up and come with him. But Little Creek would not listen, so the soldier opens the door and starts beating him, Little Creek finally got up and went with the soldier. They untied him and threw him in a pit with a bear, a grizzly bear; it was tied up to a post, a strong post. Little Creek looked at the Grizzly bear; the Grizzly bear stood up real tall and roared.

"I will not fight the bear for your amusement," said Little Creek.

The bear stood real tall then came down on all fours and tried to run but could not reach Little

Creek, so Little Creek got close to where the bear could reach him. The bear attacked him, Little Creek was on the ground and the grizzly bear was on top of him, clawing at his chest and stomach, an Indian scout quickly shot the grizzly in the head.

"Why did you do that?," shouted the soldier.

"There is a story behind the grandfather bear to the Lakota people, if he would have killed that bear, the bears body would go up and become a mosquito, but I am not Lakota so I shot the bear," said the Indian scout.

So a soldier dragged Little Creeks body to a different cage, they grabbed a bucket of water and poured it all over him, now he was laying in his own pool of blood.

"Brother," shouted Talking River.

"He won't last long, he'll be dead by morning," said the soldier.

Back at the Lakota village, Grey Eagle was pacing back and forth, he stopped and faced his mother and said,

"I have an idea, mother you’re going to put your old clothes on and change your name back to Katie. Then you go into the fort and tell them that you need strong men to work your farm. When you get all the warriors out the rest of us will kill and burn everybody that is in that fort," said Grey Eagle.

So the Indian women dressed her into her old clothes and went to the fort. As they arrived Grey Eagle told the warriors to hide in the long grass. Maya Doo Rider walked up to the fort and went inside.

"Yes ma'am can I help you?" asked a soldier.

"Yes, I need strong men to work on my farm?" asked Maya Doo Rider.

So the soldier walked her to the cages she saw many of her people. Then she saw Little Creek,

"What happened to this man?" asked Maya Doo Rider in shock.

"We'll Mrs....?" asked the soldier.

"Uh Katie," said Maya Doo Rider.

"We'll Katie he got into a fight," lied the soldier.

"I want all of them?" asked Maya Doo Rider.

"Ma'am, are you sure, even this one?" asked the soldier pointing at Little Creek.

"Yes, even him," said Maya Doo Rider.

"We'll men you herd the lady," said the soldier letting them go.

So they let them all go. When they got far enough away Grey Eagle and his warriors burned and killed everybody in that fort.

When they arrived back at their camp Maya Doo Rider was crying, everybody saw them, their mother came running out and screaming, even crying. Talking River carried Little Creek to grandmothers "tipi" (house) to see what can be done. Talking River came out and saw everybody standing around grandmothers "tipi" (house).

"He is not going to make it," said Talking River.

Everybody left and went inside their "tipi's" (houses) praying until it got dark then everybody went to sleep. Maya Doo Rider was watching over Little Creek, finally she fell asleep. When morning came she woke up and went over to Little Creeks side and saw that his stomach was not moving, so she put her face up against his and felt no breath no air, he must had died when everybody was sleeping.

"Grey Eagle, wake up, your father has gone to be with our ancestors," said Maya Doo Rider crying.

"No," Grey Eagle running out of the "tipi" (house).

Everybody tried to go inside but it was too crowded, so Talking River picked him up and buried him next

to Chief Ee-Shah-Konee along with their ancestors before them.

As the years have come and gone, they no longer talk about the dead, Grey Eagle was grown; he is a lot like his father Little Creek. Maya Doo Rider is going to be a grandmother, Grey Eagle and his wife are going to have a "hoksicala wicin" (baby girl).

"Cinis" (son), I am very proud of you, that you are starting a new life a new family, may you have many children," said Maya Doo Rider.

Talking River was old and ill, so he called Grey Eagle and Talking River gave Grey Eagle the staff, Grey Eagle is now the Chief of the Lakota tribe.

The old ways are gone, now there is a new generation to come. Little Creeks son had two boys after the girl was born, when the two boys were grown, both of them had baby boys. Only one of the boys had no children. The first boy had four boys, Spotted Eagle, Big Ben, White Hawk and Nuka. The 1800's are gone along with our ancestors, but now there is a new generation coming.

​

​