The Sioux Native Americans

 

   A Sioux Native American once said, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.These wise words were once said by Sitting Bull, a famous Sioux Native American. The Sioux were a powerful Native American tribe that used to live much differently than we do today. One can see these differences by looking at the geography, basic needs, and culture.

   First, the Sioux Native Americans used to live in what is now North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.  The land in those areas was very grassy with mixed forests, plains and fields. The Sioux got their water from the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and Lake Superior.  

    The Sioux people also had unique beliefs and customs. They believed that not only people have spirits but that other things have spirits too, such as plants, animals, rocks, storms, earthquakes and rain. Also the Sioux native americans had a special ceremony called the Sun Dance, which they performed after someone sick has recovered, or after a successful hunt.  Also, when a Sioux warrior died, the heads and tails of their favorite and best horses were placed beside them to help them travel in the afterlife. The Sioux were even called the most powerful and warlike Native Americans in North America.

    Next, the Sioux met their basic needs very differently than we do today. For example,they wore an eagle feather headdress, with a single eagle feather in their hair or on a headdress. The purpose of this was so they would have the strength and courage of an eagle. They also wore moccasins and loincloths made of buffalo. Their houses were called tipis, they were made of tanned hides. The Sioux Native Americans  ate buffalo and wansa which is pounded dried meat with berries that is cut into little bits and then mixed with suet.

    Sioux men acquired status by performing brave deeds in warfare. Sioux women were skilled at porcupine-quill and bead embroidery. Also, when a Sioux warrior died, the heads and tails of their favorite and best horses were placed beside them to help them travel in the afterlife.

Did you know that the Sioux native americans used to be called the dakota, until the french used a name from the ojibwa, who called their Sioux enemies nadewesiou, or  “treacherous snake’’.The Sioux Native Americans were a very interesting, powerful and a wise tribe. They had very interesting geography,basic needs, and culture. I hope that in the future the Sioux Native Americans will continue to grow and flourish.

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Bibliography

 

Berson, Michel. Haurcourt Social Studies. USA, : Houghton Miffin Harcourt, 2010. Print

 

VIRGINIA DRIVING HAWK. THE SIOUX. NEW YORK, USA: HOLIDAY HOUSE, 1993. Print.

 

Sioux Nation." Ducksters. Ed. tsi. 2017. Web. 1 Jan. 2017.

 

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. SIOUX. Web. 1 Jan. 2017.