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Lakota Facts & Worksheets

The Lakota group, also known as the Teton Sioux, is an Indigenous American group that forms part of the Sioux Nation.

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The Lakota group, also known as the Teton Sioux, is an Indigenous American group that forms part of the Sioux Nation. The Great Sioux Nation, known as the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nation, is composed of three primary language groups and geographical groups: Lakota (Teton, West Dakota), Nakota (Yankton, Central Dakota), and Dakota (Santee, Eastern Dakota). The Lakota people were nomadic hunters and gatherers, relying on the vast buffalo herds for their sustenance and way of life. 

See the fact file below for more information on Lakota, or you can download our 32-page Lakota worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOGRAPHIC REGION

  • The Lakota (Western Sioux) people are located on five reservations in the states of South and North Dakota, a region with varied topography and varying temperature. 
  • Mixed grasses cover the undulating hills on the broad plains, which are occasionally broken up by sand hills, badlands, buttes, and canyons created by the Missouri River and its tributaries.
  • The Lakota and their horse-riding neighbors invaded the Plains as a result of the widespread adoption of European-introduced horses and firearms, leaving their wooded homes and gardens in search of the large herds of American bison and other game species, such as elk and deer.
  • The first group of Oglala Lakota entered the Black Hills in 1775, according to the winter count made by American Horse.
  • Before settling on reservations, they wandered the area for around 100 years. The Lakota, who had previously been sedentary, embraced a nomadic existence, following the buffalo—their most prized resource—across the Plains, reversing the typical human trend from a hunter-gatherer to a sedentary lifestyle.
  • They had been to the Plains before, but this was their first time staying there. 
  • There, long-term settlers who lived in permanent village settlements along the rivers and engaged in agriculture coexisted with the seasonal nomadic Lakota. On the Plains, nature provided humanity with several options on how to live.

HISTORY

  •  The history of the Lakota people is marked by migration, conflicts with other indigenous groups, interactions with European settlers, and the eventual confinement to reservations. 
  • The Lakota, part of the Sioux or Dakota people, has a complex history that spans several centuries.
  • The origins of the Siouan-speaking peoples, which include the Lakota, can be traced back to the lower Mississippi River region. 
  • They were likely agriculturalists and may have been part of the Mound Builder civilization during the 9th-12th centuries. 
  • Some Lakota legends suggest that they originally lived near the Great Lakes but later migrated westward, possibly displacing or assimilating with Algonquian-speaking groups in the region.
  • In the upper Mississippi Valley, the Lakota people resided in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, encompassing present-day Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas. They encountered conflicts with other indigenous groups like the Anishinaabe and Cree, and eventually, in the middle to end of the 17th century, the Lakota were forced onto the Great Plains in the west.
  • Lakota history is preserved through winter counts, picture calendars painted on hides, and eventually written down on paper. 
  • These winter counts document significant events and serve as historical records for the Lakota people. 
  • According to one winter count called the ‘Battiste Good winter count,’ Lakota history dates back to 900 BCE when the White Buffalo Calf Woman gave the Lakota people the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, which became a sacred item for them.
  • Around 1730, the Cheyenne people introduced the Lakota to horses, revolutionizing their way of life. The Lakota adopted horse culture, which centered on buffalo hunting on horseback.
  • The Lakota population grew steadily over time, and by 1805, it was estimated at 8,500 individuals.
  • Unlike many other Indigenous American groups, the Lakota population increased throughout the 19th century and reached around 16,110 by 1881. 
  • Today, more than 170,000 individuals identify as Lakota, although only about 2,000 still speak the Lakota language.
  • In the early 18th century, the Lakota split into two major sects, the Saône and the Oglála-Sičháŋǧu. 
  • The Saône initially settled in the Lake Traverse area on the South Dakota-North Dakota-Minnesota border, while the Oglála-Sičháŋǧu occupied the James River valley. However, both groups eventually moved westward, with the Saône settling on the east bank of the Missouri River and the Oglála-Sičháŋǧu following suit later.
  • The Lakota’s westward expansion was facilitated by the decline of other indigenous groups due to the devastating smallpox epidemic of 1772-1780. 
  • The Lakota crossed the Missouri River into the short-grass prairies of the High Plains, establishing themselves in the Black Hills region.
  • They encountered the Cheyenne, who previously inhabited the area, and tensions arose. The Lakota made the Black Hills their home and considered it sacred.
  • The Lakota had various interactions with European settlers and the United States government. Initial contact during the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 was marked by a standoff, but it did not result in a major conflict.
  • However, conflicts and tensions increased over time due to unauthorized settlement on Lakota lands, encroachment on resources, and broken treaties.
  • The U.S. government signed the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, which granted unrestricted access to the Oregon Trail to European Americans in exchange for acknowledging Lakota’s sovereignty over the Great Plains. However, the treaty was not effectively enforced, and conflicts between the Lakota and settlers continued. 
  • A rise in military presence in the area followed the finding of gold in the Black Hills, which led to further escalation of the conflict.
  • The Lakota engaged in several battles with the U.S. Army, including the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, where the Lakota and their allies defeated General Custer’s forces. 
  • The U.S. Army ultimately reinforced its troops, resulting in the Lakota’s defeat and the Great Sioux War’s conclusion in 1877.
  • The Lakota were subsequently confined to reservations, and their traditional way of life was severely disrupted.
  • A treaty granting the United States ownership of the Black Hills was signed in 1877 by a few Lakota clans, although the nature and legitimacy of this treaty remain disputed. 
  • Subsequent conflicts and events, such as the killing of Sitting Bull in 1890 and the Wounded Knee Massacre, further affected the Lakota and their struggles for land and cultural rights.
  • Today, the Lakota people are primarily found in the five reservations of western South Dakota: Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock. Some Lakota also reside in other areas, such as Rapid City in the Black Hills, metro Denver, and various reservations in Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
  • The Lakota continue to seek recognition and protection for their cultural and land rights, and many elders have joined organizations like the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) to advocate for their interests.

CULTURE

  • The Lakota people were used to using horses and firearms by 1707. The Lakota became skilled buffalo hunters in the middle of the 18th century and created a method for doing so. 
  • They relied on a vision from a spiritual leader to signal the start of bison hunting. 
  • The spiritual leader received guidance from the vision on when to start the hunting procedure and when to postpone it.
  • The main food source was buffalo (tatanka), with any extra skins being sold to neighboring groups and Anglo-Americans. To achieve a better diet that did not only depend on meat consumption, the Lakota people also traded buffalo skins with the Mandan towns for grain.
  • Due to their nomadic lifestyle, large tipis constructed of buffalo skin that was simple to put up and take down were home to the Lakota people. 
  • The Lakota women oversaw running the household. When the group chose to migrate, they oversaw building the tipi, which also necessitated transporting the bulky posts over a traverse.
  • The Lakota were experts in creating a variety of arts and crafts.
  • The Lakota women engaged in beading and porcupine quillwork. They “weaved stiff porcupine quills onto leather or birchbark” after softening and dying them for porcupine quillwork. 
  • When most quillwork professionals switched to beading techniques instead of using porcupine quills, quillwork was almost lost as a craft.
  • A large portion of the quill and beading is used to embellish ceremonial and powwow attire. 
  • Given that seed beads, the primary material used in beading, were more widely available and did not need the laborious manual labor associated with using porcupine quills, beadwork appeared to be a more logical technique. 
  • Indigenous Americans crafted beads out of natural materials before the Europeans brought glass beads into the world. The main material utilized by traditional beaders in many Indigenous American groups today is glass beads.
  • Buffalo hide painting was an essential component of Lakota culture since hunting was a big part of their way of life. 
  • Buffalo skins were used as clothing in both utilitarian and ceremonial contexts. 
  • The Lakota people could stay warm throughout the bitter winters because of the skins.
  • The Lakota people wore buffalo hides decorated with symbols when they were unwell because they thought the buffalo (tatanka) held strong medicinal properties. 
  • Various tribal members painted buffalo skin for a variety of reasons.
  • Political and spiritual leaders wore skins depicting historical tribal events or a warrior’s bravery, while women painted hides to promote childbirth.
  • The Lakota people utilized a combination of oral tradition, visual representation, and written language to communicate. 
  • The Lakota language, which is still in use today, is spoken by many proficient speakers despite the influence of European society on communication methods. It is employed in educational institutions and religious ceremonies. 
  • While written language has played a crucial role in preserving Lakota oral culture, it does not capture all the nuances of the spoken tradition. Textbooks and internet resources have become popular tools for learning the language due to their convenience and accessibility.
  • Before the advent of writing, the Lakota relied on an extensive oral tradition to pass down their myths and tales, which were integral to their spiritual way of life. 
  • The holy men held the knowledge of creation myths, although not all stories were known to any single holy man.
  • The efforts of a European doctor named James Walker were instrumental in recording and translating these stories, ensuring their preservation. 
  • Walker developed a close relationship with the Lakota and eventually became a member of their organization, gaining access to the hidden creation tales. 
  • However, written translations of these stories inevitably lose some of the subtleties and elements of the oral tradition, such as dramatic pauses and shifts in tone.
  • In addition to oral tradition, the Lakota employed visual forms of communication. Drawings and paintings on animal hide and, later on, unbleached muslin was used to document various aspects of Lakota life, including religious rituals, warfare, and everyday occurrences. 
  • These visual records provide valuable insights into Lakota culture and offer an uncensored indigenous perspective on events, particularly during encounters with Europeans.
  • In contemporary times, different alphabets are used to write the Lakota language depending on the country or group.
  • Some people employ phonetics, while others make use of the English alphabet. While some Lakota vowels sound similar to those in English, others, such as “an,” “in,” “on,” and “un,” are partially spoken through the nose, like in French. 
  • Consonants in Lakota often have different pronunciations depending on their position within a word.

WARFARE

  • During the 1840s gold rush, European traders and travelers intensified the buffalo hunt for the fur trade and brought diseases to the Indigenous Americans, sparking conflict. 
  • In 1851, the Fort Laramie Treaty was signed to ensure peace between the Rocky Mountain groups and white Americans, but every treaty between the U.S. government and the Lakota people was broken due to the buffalo fur trade. 
  • This led to conflicts, including the famous Battle of Little Bighorn.
  • The Lakota are a powerful group known for their legendary chiefs and warriors like Red Claw, American Horse, Young Man Afraid of His Horses, Red Horn Buffalo, and Crazy Horse. 
  • The Lakota revere Crazy Horse as a hero who fought for his people’s territory without making contact with white people. They are fierce fighters who value courage and honor. 
  • They have a strong bond with their horses and consider them brothers, protecting and defending each other in combat.
  • In encounters with the cavalry, the Lakota would strike them without killing, using sticks, or even their bare hands. This was because they believed in “counting koo,” a non-violent way to display bravery.
  • If a Lakota approached an enemy, touched their nose, and left without killing them, it would bring humiliation to the enemy and boost the Lakota’s reputation.
  • As a proud and tenacious people, the Lakota have a strong sense of identity and uphold their traditions and ways of life.

MODERN LAKOTA

  • The Lakota Sioux, recognized as a semi-autonomous “nation” within the United States, have legal and treaty-based status. They are represented locally by elected officials in councils for various reservations and communities in the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska. 
  • Through the Bureau of Indigenous Affairs, these organizations have direct contact with the federal government. Lakota residents can participate in local, state, and federal elections and are represented by elected officials at the state and national levels.
  • Members of Lakota bands or residing on individual reservations can vote in reservation elections, with each reservation having its own requirements for tribal membership and unique local government structure. 
  • Most reservations follow a multi-member tribal council model, with a chairman or President elected directly by the voters. Currently, Kevin Killer serves as the President of the Oglala Sioux, Rodney M. Bordeaux is the President of the Sičháŋǧu Lakota.
  • Janet Alkire is the Chairwoman of the Standing Rock reservation, Harold Frazier is the Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Group, and Boyd I. Gourneau is the Chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Group.
  • As semi-autonomous political entities, tribal governments have certain rights to independence from state laws. 
  • They can operate Indigenous gaming if the state has enacted related laws.
  • Still, they are subject to supervisory oversight by the United States Congress and regulatory control through the Bureau of Indigenous Affairs. 
  • The nature and legitimacy of these relationships continue to be a subject of dispute.

Independence Movement

The Lakota, like other tribal nations, have engaged in actions, occupations, and independence movements, particularly since the mid to late 20th century. 

They have filed land claims against the federal government for the alleged illegal taking of the Black Hills in the 19th century.

In the 1980 decision of United States v. Sioux Nation of Indigenous, the Supreme Court found in favor of the Sioux Indigenous, giving them a $122 million settlement for their land claims in the Black Hills. 

The Sioux, however, have declined to take the money since doing so would formally end their requests for the restitution of the Black Hills.

  • The funds remain in a Bureau of Indigenous Affairs account, accumulating compound interest and reaching over $1 billion as of 2011.
  • The U.N. approved the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007; however, it was decided not to be signed by the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • In December 2007, a group led by activist Russell Means, under the name Lakota Freedom Delegation, traveled to Washington D.C. to announce the withdrawal of the Lakota Sioux from all treaties with the United States government. 
  • At the same time, this group had no standing under any elected tribal government, and official Lakota tribal leaders publicly distanced themselves from the declaration. 
  • The tribal governments issued statements emphasizing that the Lakota Freedom Delegation did not represent or speak for them, and no elected tribal governments endorsed the declaration.

Lakota Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Lakota across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Lakota. The Lakota group, also known as the Teton Sioux, is an Indigenous American group that forms part of the Sioux Nation.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Lakota Facts
  2. Groups in Lakota
  3. Map of Lakota
  4. In Warfare
  5. Comprehend and Learn
  6. Fill with letters
  7. Pattern by Me
  8. Introduce Yourself 
  9. Tipi to Live In 
  10. My Own Craft
  11. Museum to Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Lakota people?

The Lakota people are a Native American tribe and one of the three major divisions of the Sioux Nation. They are part of the Great Sioux Nation and have a rich history and culture. Traditionally, they inhabited the Great Plains region of North America, primarily in what is now known as North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.

What is the Lakota language?

The Lakota language, also known as Lakȟótiyapi, is a member of the Siouan language family and is spoken by the Lakota people. It is a Native American language with a complex grammatical structure and a unique sound system. Lakota is a polysynthetic language, meaning that words can be formed by combining multiple morphemes into a single word. Today, efforts are being made to revitalize and preserve the Lakota language.

What are some important aspects of Lakota culture?

  1. Lakota culture is rich in traditions and values. Here are a few important aspects:
  • Spiritual beliefs: The Lakota people have a deep spiritual connection with the natural world and hold sacred ceremonies, such as the Sun Dance, vision quests, and sweat lodges.
  • Oral tradition: Storytelling is an integral part of Lakota culture, as it is used to pass down history, legends, and moral teachings from one generation to another.
  • Arts and crafts: Lakota people are known for their artistic skills, including beadwork, quillwork, pottery, and traditional clothing like the iconic Lakota war bonnets.
  • Bison culture: Historically, the Lakota relied on the bison for their sustenance and considered them sacred. The bison played a vital role in their culture, providing food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual significance.

What is the significance of Lakota ceremonies?

  • Lakota ceremonies hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. They serve as a way to connect with the spirit world, honor ancestors, seek guidance, and maintain harmony with nature. Some of the important ceremonies include:
  • Sun Dance: The Sun Dance is the most well-known Lakota ceremony. It is a complex and sacred ritual that involves fasting, prayer, and dance. It is performed to renew spiritual connections, offer sacrifices, and seek visions and healing.
  • Vision quests: Vision quests are individual journeys undertaken by young Lakota to seek spiritual guidance and find their purpose in life. They involve fasting, isolation, and communion with nature.
  • Sweat lodge: The sweat lodge ceremony involves entering a small, heated structure for purification and spiritual renewal. It is a sacred space for prayer, introspection, and healing.

How has the Lakota culture been preserved today?

  • Despite the challenges faced by the Lakota people, efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize their culture. Some initiatives include:
  • Language revitalization: Organizations and educational programs are working to teach and promote the Lakota language in schools and communities.
  • Cultural centers: Various cultural centers and museums, such as the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, showcase Lakota history, art, and traditions.
  • Oral tradition: Elders and cultural leaders pass down traditional knowledge through storytelling and mentoring younger generations.
  • Powwows: Powwows provide a platform for Lakota people to celebrate their culture, showcasing traditional dances, music, regalia, and food.
  • Cultural education: Schools and community organizations incorporate Lakota culture and history into their curricula to ensure future generations have an understanding and appreciation of their heritage.

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