THE STORY OF THE SEVEN COUNCIL FIRES OF THE LAKOTA

The Lakota preserve many histories of their people in stories passed on from generation to generation. One such story tells of how the Lakota came to the plains, and how they came to arrange themselves into the Oceti Sakowin, the Seven Council Fires.

The story tells of a long journey from a land by a large lake, where the Lakota fed on fish, heated by the warmth of the sun, and were warm and happy.

According to this tale, a man appeared to the Lakota in a cloud that hung near the sea, and told them to travel northward. The Lakota obeyed, and began to travel north.

On their way, they began to feel cold, and the sun was not strong enough to cook their food. Two young men among them had a vision, and following the instructions their vision had given them, they took gathered fry grasses and then struck two flint stones together. For the first time, the Lakota had fire, at which they could warm themselves and cook their food.

All together, there were seven groups of relatives that travelled together. Each of these groups took some of the fire, and used it to buid their own fire, around which they would gather. As a result, they became known as the Seven Council Fires, or Oceti Sakowin.

Because the fire was so important, it was never allowed to die out. Instead, it would be carried by a firebearer, whose task it was to carry the fire and keep it lit while the Lakota travelled towards the north each day. When they camped at night, the firebearer would share the fire among the seven groups, and the Lakota would be able to keep warm and cook their food each day.

Eventually, the Lakota came to an area that was full of lakes and had good fishing and hunting, and decided to stay. They built houses, and declared the land their home.

There were several other tribes in the area, many of whom encountered the Lakota in their villiages. While the Lakota were known to be friendly unless attacked, many tribes fought long wars with the Lakota over land, or hunting rights.

The bands of the Lakota became named for the places they settled, or for some event that happened to them over the course of time. The Tetonwan, or People of the Prarie, for example, recieved their name because they travelled further west than the other tribes, and lived on the prarie lands in the west.

Image: TIOSPAYE, Vivian One Feather, Principal Investigator. A Project for the Oglala Sioux Cultural Center, Red Cloud Indian School, 1972.