The Lakota's culture was based off of the land they lived on.
Strategies of Getting Food
The Lakota did hunt the bison primarily, but in addition, they did hunt other animals such as deer, and they fished year-round. In addition, the Lakota gathered food from the many edible plants that grew in their territory. These plants included wild turnips and berries.
A common Lakota practice was to make the berries into patties, which were dried to prevent spoilage. The berries, once dry, were mixed with deer meat and tallow to make a Lakota dish called masna.
The Lakota did hunt the bison primarily, but in addition, they did hunt other animals such as deer, and they fished year-round. In addition, the Lakota gathered food from the many edible plants that grew in their territory. These plants included wild turnips and berries.
A common Lakota practice was to make the berries into patties, which were dried to prevent spoilage. The berries, once dry, were mixed with deer meat and tallow to make a Lakota dish called masna.
General Culture
There were seven subgroups of the Lakota tribe, all of which traveled through the territory as nomads, following the herds of bison that migrated throughout the area. Because of this nomadic lifestyle, the tribe placed a great value on family and community, as that was the only thing besides the bison that remained constant in their lives. Family came before community, but Lakota would share what they had with both. In addition, a great value was placed on children, as they were a fundamental part of the family and the part that would carry the family on; adoption was a common practice because of this.
Lakota clothing was made from the animals that lived around them; most clothes were made of deerskin and adorned with porcupine quills. Lakota also wore moccasins.
There were seven subgroups of the Lakota tribe, all of which traveled through the territory as nomads, following the herds of bison that migrated throughout the area. Because of this nomadic lifestyle, the tribe placed a great value on family and community, as that was the only thing besides the bison that remained constant in their lives. Family came before community, but Lakota would share what they had with both. In addition, a great value was placed on children, as they were a fundamental part of the family and the part that would carry the family on; adoption was a common practice because of this.
Lakota clothing was made from the animals that lived around them; most clothes were made of deerskin and adorned with porcupine quills. Lakota also wore moccasins.
Religious Practices
The Lakota were a fairly religious tribe, and had many ways of showcasing their religion. For instance, the Lakota would have ceremonies that lasted for days, including prayer dances. In these dances, Lakota would adorn themselves with feathers, hides, horns, and teeth of various animals, and would copy the movements of the animal that they wore. Some of the ceremonies were based on the sun, and when the sun reached a certain place, the Lakota would perform a ceremony there. They believed that the spirits were performing the same ceremony at the same time in the spirit world, which gave the Lakota ceremony sacred power.
One location in the Lakota territory had great religious significance. A place in the Black Hills called the wind cave was believed to be where Mother Earth led the common man to the surface of the world from the world below.
The Lakota were a fairly religious tribe, and had many ways of showcasing their religion. For instance, the Lakota would have ceremonies that lasted for days, including prayer dances. In these dances, Lakota would adorn themselves with feathers, hides, horns, and teeth of various animals, and would copy the movements of the animal that they wore. Some of the ceremonies were based on the sun, and when the sun reached a certain place, the Lakota would perform a ceremony there. They believed that the spirits were performing the same ceremony at the same time in the spirit world, which gave the Lakota ceremony sacred power.
One location in the Lakota territory had great religious significance. A place in the Black Hills called the wind cave was believed to be where Mother Earth led the common man to the surface of the world from the world below.