Omar Bennett
The Lakota, also known as the Teton Sioux, are a Native American people comprising seven tribes, historically known as warriors and buffalo hunters. In Lakota culture, the concept of 'tiyospaye' refers to the belief that family extends beyond immediate blood relatives to include all members of their tribal clan and the wider Lakota nation. This value of kinship is integral to Lakota society, where family and community bonds are paramount.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kinship | Living in harmony, belonging, relations as true wealth, and the importance of trusting in others |
| Self-control and self-restraint | Compassion and care for all, especially the elderly, the young, those in mourning, and those who work to help people |
| Respect | Fortitude, patience, perseverance, and strength of mind in the face of challenges |
| Generosity, contributing to the well-being of one's people and all life by sharing and giving freely |
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What You'll Learn
Kinship and the extended family
The Lakota, or Lakhota, are a Native American people and one of the three prominent subcultures of the Sioux people. Their lands are currently in North and South Dakota, and they speak the Lakȟótiyapi language.
Lakota families are based on the values of living in harmony, belonging, relations as true wealth, and trust. Family is considered a measure of wealth, and members are expected to support each other in good times and bad. This support extends to travel, where a Lakota person can expect to be welcomed and supported by other Lakota people as if they were family.
Kinship is also expressed through "giveaways", where families gather their belongings and set them out for any person in the community to take. This practice is reflected in the old Lakota saying, "What you give away, you keep; what you keep, you lose".
Compassion and care for others, especially the elderly, the young, those in mourning, and those who work for the community, are also important values in Lakota culture. Respect, or "waohola", is demonstrated through honouring and praising elders, avoiding negative speech in public, and reacting with reserve and warmth.
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Birth, marriage, or adoption
The Lakota, also known as the Teton Sioux, are a Native American people comprising seven bands or "sub-tribes". In the Lakota culture, the word "tiyospaye" describes the belief that family includes not only immediate blood relatives but also all those within their tribal clan. This is reflected in the saying, "Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ el lechangleska wichoni", which translates to "We are all related in this circle of life".
Lakota families are based on the values of kinship, harmony, belonging, and trust. The concept of "tiyóšpaye" extends beyond the immediate family to include the band and the entire Lakota nation. This means that a Lakota person can travel anywhere within the Lakota nation and expect to be welcomed and supported as if they were with their own family.
Lakota families are formed through birth, marriage, or adoption. The family is considered a measure of wealth, and Lakota people are known for their generosity and sharing. They practice "giveaways", where families gather their belongings and set them out for any person in the community to take. This is in line with the Lakota saying, "What you give away, you keep; what you keep, you lose".
Respect, or "waohola", is another key value in Lakota society. Respect is demonstrated through eye contact, appropriate talking, and behaviours that show warmth and reserveness. Elders are held in high esteem and their ideas are honoured and built upon. Speaking negatively about others in public is considered disrespectful and is avoided.
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The importance of trusting others
The Lakota, also known as the Teton Sioux, are a Native American people comprising seven tribes. Their lands are currently in North and South Dakota, and most tribal members are also citizens of the United States.
In the Lakota culture, the word "tiyospaye" or "tiyóšpaye" represents the idea that family extends beyond immediate blood relatives to include all those within their tribal clan and the whole Lakota nation. This concept highlights the importance of community and family bonds, with the belief that "we are all related in this circle of life".
Trust is an essential value within the Lakota culture, particularly in the context of kinship and family. The Lakota saying, "what you give away, you keep; what you keep, you lose", reflects the importance of sharing and generosity in their society. This sharing includes not only material possessions but also emotions such as sympathy, compassion, and kindness.
For the Lakota, trust and kinship go hand in hand. They believe that family is a source of support and wealth, and that one's family will stand by them through good times and bad. This sense of belonging and mutual support extends beyond the immediate family to the entire community. When a Lakota person travels, they can expect to be welcomed and supported by their extended family and community as if they were their own kin.
The Lakota also value self-control and self-restraint, and respect, particularly for elders and learned people. Respect is demonstrated through specific behaviours, such as maintaining eye contact, being mindful of excessive talking, and showing veneration and praise for the elders' wisdom and integrity.
Compassion is another important aspect of Lakota culture, as they believe that everyone is part of the circle of life. They care for one another, especially the elderly, the youth, those in mourning, and those who work for the benefit of the community. By trusting and supporting each other, the Lakota people foster a strong sense of community and family that extends beyond blood relations.
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Respect for elders
Respect, or waohola, is a cornerstone of Lakota society. This value is demonstrated through observing and maintaining integrity, for example, by avoiding excessive talking and behaving in a reserved and warm manner. Respect is also shown by reacting differently according to age, gender, relations, and generation.
Lakota children were traditionally taught self-control and self-restraint in the presence of parents or adults. They were encouraged to view those more skilled than themselves as role models, rather than competitors. Elders are to be held in high esteem, honoured, venerated, and praised for their wisdom and integrity. When ideas are expressed in meetings, it is customary to honour and build on them, especially if they come from elders or learned people. Arguing or insisting that one's ideas are better is discouraged.
The Lakota saying, "We are all related in this circle of life," reflects the belief that family extends beyond immediate blood relatives to include the entire tribal clan and the Lakota nation. This sense of kinship is an essential value within the tiyóšpaye, or extended family. It encompasses living in harmony, belonging, relations as true wealth, and the importance of trusting others.
Compassion and care for all, especially the elderly, are important values in Lakota culture. They believe in caring for others as one would for themselves, recognising that everyone is interconnected in the circle of life. This compassion extends to those in mourning and those who work to help others.
Generosity is also a key virtue, demonstrated through contributing to the well-being of the community by sharing possessions and emotions like sympathy, compassion, and kindness.
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Compassion and care
The Lakota people have a saying: "We are all related in this circle of life." This reflects their belief that family is not limited to immediate blood relatives but includes their entire tribal clan and the broader Lakota nation. This sense of kinship is a core value of Lakota culture, and it promotes living in harmony, belonging, and trusting relationships.
The Lakota also believe that "family is the measure of your wealth." This means that family, in the broad sense of the Lakota community, will provide support and care during both good and challenging times. This belief is reflected in another Lakota saying: "What you give away, you keep; what you keep, you lose." This saying underscores the importance of generosity and sharing within Lakota society.
Lakota children are taught self-control and self-restraint from an early age, particularly in the presence of adults. They learn that success is not about being superior to others but rather about achieving personal goals. This mindset fosters a community where individuals strive to improve themselves and contribute to the collective well-being.
Respect, or waohola, is another cornerstone of Lakota culture. Elders, in particular, are held in high esteem and are honoured, venerated, and praised for their wisdom and integrity. Respect is demonstrated through maintaining eye contact, being mindful of excessive talking, and behaving with warmth and reserve.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic unit of a family in the Lakota tribes is called tiyóšpaye, which refers to the extended family.
The concept of tiyóšpaye includes the ideas of living in harmony, belonging, relations as true wealth, and the importance of trusting in others.
For the Lakota, you belong to a tiyóšpaye through birth, marriage, or adoption.
A tiyóšpaye can extend beyond one's immediate and extended family to include the whole Lakota nation.
The tiyóšpaye is an essential part of Lakota culture, as it provides a sense of belonging, support, and wealth. Lakota people are known for their strong community and family bonds.
