The Story of Star Boy

It was a warm summer night and many of the Indians had emerged from their airless tipis to sleep under the open sky among the cool, sweet smelling prairie grass. One, a young girl called Feather Woman, awoke early, it was not yet dawn, and the morning star had just begun to rise above the [...]

Understanding Nature’s Language

Have you ever wondered how animals know when a natural disaster is coming?  Why don’t people take these signs into consideration throughout their lives?  These are a few questions I have often wondered about.  Nature has a way of communicating through its own language.  It is up to us to interpret these signs and use [...]

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Hidden away, out of sight but dotting the landscape of America, are the little known or forgotten Reservations of the Indigenous People of our land.  Sadly, the average U.S. mainstream resident knows almost nothing about the people of the Native American reservations other than what romanticized or caricaturisation versions they see on film
or as [...]

The Red Road and the Black Road

There are many roads in life, but there are two that are important; the Red Road and the Black Road. They represent good and bad in every one’s life. It’s the two choices people have to make frequently in life. The Red Road is the good way, the good side, and the right choice. It [...]

The Sun Dance: Sacrifice, Integration, Reciprocity, and Regeneration

Generally, each sun dance has a sponsor, usually the main dancer, who bears the expenses of the ceremony. The event ordinarily involves about a week or more of activity consisting of an early private period, during which preparations are made and instruction and prayer take place, followed by the public phase of dancing. Construction [...]

White Buffalo Calf Woman

The story about how the pipe first came to the Lakota people.

The Role of the Bald Eagle in the Native American Culture

The Bald Eagle is a sacred bird in some North American cultures, and its feathers, like those of the Golden Eagle, are central to many religious and spiritual customs among Native Americans. Eagles are considered spiritual messengers between gods and humans by some cultures.

Closing the Gap Between the Younger Generation and the Elders

The situation on Pine Ridge and other reservations today is not much different in comparison. Outside influences have devastated families. There is a high unemployment rate, alcoholism, drug use, gangs, stealing, violence, staying up all night and sleeping all day, babies having babies and lack of safety. Adults talk about negative forces and other things [...]

Smudging: Sage, Cedar, and Sweet Grass

Have you ever thought about what a “smudge” is?

Russell Gives Van a New Life

Pimp My Ride, Lakota Style