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Glossary: People of the Bison
Native American pronunciation by Jerome Kills Small
Click on the word for Native American pronunciation

Agency: (noun) Governmental department or location where Native Americans acquire food, clothing and other necessities.

Bison: (noun) A large mammal of North America with brown fur, a thick full mane, small curved horns and hooves. Common name is buffalo.

Dakota : (noun) 1. Group of Native Americans, which includes the tribes of Mdewakantonwan, Waqpe-tonwon, Sisitonwan,
Waqpe-kute, and Santee. 2. Form of dialect spoken by the Dakota.

Descendant (noun) 1. Proceeding by descent from an ancestor.
2. An individual descended from another.

Galloped (verb) A rapid pace.

Lakota (noun) 1. Group of Native Americans, which includes the tribes of Itazipco, Oohenunpa, Sihasapa, Oglala, Sicangu, Hunkpapa, Hohwoju, Minneconjou and Titonwan. 2. Form of dialect spoken by the Lakota.

Nakota (noun) 1. Group of Native Americans, which includes the tribes of Ihantunwan and Ihanktunwan na. 2. Form of dialect spoken by the Nakota.

Powwow (noun) 1. An American Indian ceremony (as for victory in war) 2. An American Indian social gathering or fair usually including competitive dancing. A Powwow is also called Wacipi.

Reservation (noun) A tract of land set apart by the federal government for a special purpose, especially one for the use of a Native American people.

Segregation (noun) The policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination.

Sioux (noun) A group of Native American peoples, also known as the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota inhabiting the northern Great Plains from Minnesota to eastern Montana and from southern Saskatchewan to Nebraska. Present-day Sioux populations are located mainly in North and South Dakota.

Starvation (noun) The act or process of starving.

Tradition (noun) The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication.

Fifteen Tribal Groups of Early Native Americans

The seven main divisions were called the Oceti Sakowin or Seven Council Fires.
* Indicates Oceti Sakowin (also called Seven Council Fires, information on links page)

Dakota Speaking:
*Mdewakantonwan - community of the sacred lake
*Waqpe-tonwon - dwellers of the leaves (also called Wahpeton)
*Sisitonwan - village of the marsh (also called Sisseton)
*Waqpe-kute - those who hunt in the woods
  Santee  (isanti) - those who use knives

Nakota Speaking:
*Ihantunwan - those who camp at the end (also called Yankton)
*Ihanktunwanna – those who camp at the lesser end (also called Yanktonais)

Lakota Speaking:
*Titonwan - those who live on the prairie (also called Teton)
Itazipco - no bows (also called Sans Arc)
Oohenunpa - those how cook their food twice (also called Two Kettles)
Sihasapa - black feet (also called Blackfeet)
Oglala - those who scatter them
Sicangu - burning thigh (also called Brule)
Hunkpapa - those who camp by the entrance
Hohwoju - those who plant by the water (also called Minneconjou)

Native American Words
Source
A project of Association of American Indian Affairs and the
Sisseton-Wahpeton College
*De Un Dakotah Wohdakapo
*Mitakuya
*Wamanica Wowapi Mitawa
 

Dakota Dictionary Online
 

English Dakota Audio
Pencil / pen wicazo hear audio clip
Eat  Wota wo hear audio clip
Are you hungry? Wotayahda hear audio clip
Sit Down Iyutaka wo hear audio clip
Brush your teeth Hi hdujaja wo hear audio clip
Help me Omakiya wo hear audio clip
Come in Timahed hiyu wo hear audio clip
Sit here Ded yanka wo hear audio clip
Cough Hohpe hear audio clip
Wait Hiyanka hear audio clip
Buffalo Tatanka hear audio clip
Cow Pte hear audio clip
Dog Sunka hear audio clip
Mouse Hitunkana hear audio clip
Bear Mato hear audio clip
Mom Ina hear audio clip
Dad Ate hear audio clip
Grandma Kunsi hear audio clip
Grandpa Unkana hear audio clip
Uncle Deks hear audio clip
Aunt Tonwin hear audio clip
Yes Hau hear audio clip
Car iyeciakopte
(iyecimni)
hear audio clip



Vocabulary (most found in the sources below)
*The American Heritage Dictionary Second College Edition
*Dictionary .com
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
*Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary


 

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