Lakota Culture

### Lakota Land

Earth's climate is changing partially as a result of human activities. Climate change is impacting people and the ecosystem all around the world. “Thus, we're also gathered and presented traditional ecological perspectives from Native elders and other tribal voices. In rural Alaskan communities, the value of the land is of significant importance, and the connection is vital. Communities, already challenged by water availability, will most likely be forced to deal with lengthening periods of hot, intense drought." Native Americans in the Southwest are vulnerable to climate change. The Native Americans have a relationship with the environment, which their culture, tradition, and livelihood depends on.

Climate change may overwhelm tribes who are already stressed by economic and development challenges, Natives will likely be first affected by climate change. Native Americans are expected to be among the population groups most vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change. Tribes manage 95 million acres, 11 million acres more than the National Park Service, with many reservations home to diverse habitats. In this source, they talk about how we need to notify and tell the Native Americans what is going on because it could affect them through their crop yield.The Native Americans land is being used for resources, and profit. Their spiritual practices are being pushed aside for the resources and profit. With the land being stripped of its resources for a profit the Natives don’t have a place to practice their spirituality.

### History

The  Lakota are a tribe that is located next to the Sioux tribe in Northern America in the Great Plains. Before 1640, the Lakota lived closer to the Dakota who lived in Minnesota . They lived a riverine lifestyle, relying on wild rice, hunting deer, and fishing. As the years went on the Lakota decided to move west. The first reason was because they were having too much conflict with other tribes. Second, large herds of buffalo roamed to the west plains. Lastly, the Lakota felt threatened by the encroaching whites who were moving west. Through time, the whites moved west and so did their great impact on hunting, riding on horses and hunting buffalo with guns became very popular in the Lakota tribe. In the 1850s to the 1880s, the American army sent troops to protect American settlers from natives, which enraged the Lakota and they began more conflict. In 1868, the tribes and the government negotiated to create Sioux Reservation, which includes South Dakota, and the west of the Missouri river. Today, ½ the Lakota live on reservations.

### Beliefs & Cultural

Lakota history and belief are passed on from generation to generation through the beautiful art of storytelling. Storytelling is very important in the Lakota culture, it is a way the elders pass down stories and preserve the culture in the youth. For instance, In the Lakota tradition, the mother of a newborn cuts off the umbilical cord. After the cord is cut the mother sews it into a small buckskin bag. The bag is usually shaped like a turtle or lizard. It is kept throughout the child's life as a representation of the child’s existence before and after birth.

### Important people/ Events

Crazy horse was a legendary warrior and leader in the Lakota tribe. He is celebrated for his effort to preserve Native American culture and traditions. Because of the violent and controversial death of Crazy Horse, he has become a mystical creature in the Lakota tribe.  The birth of Crazy Horse is uncertain, his father was a medicine man, and his mother a Brule. The Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota has been under construction since 1948. Once it is completed, it will be the world’s largest sculpture.

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