The Sun Dance - A Sacred Lakota Rite
One of the greatest rites in Native American tradition is the sun dance. Once banned, it is now freely practiced by many traditional Indians.
This rite is often held at the height of the summer when the moon is full. The purpose of the sun dance, like all other ceremonies, is to pray. In addition, it offers tribe members a chance to offer their bodies as sacrifices for the community.
The Six Directions play a major part in the symbolism of this rite — beginning with a sweat lodge and pipe ceremony.
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Lakota Artist - Randall Blaze
A Native American visual artist working in metal smithing, acrylic oil painting, bronze designs and pottery forms, Randall Blaze draws inspiration from his people’s ancestral designs.
Randall's goal is to help record and integrate visual elements of the Lakota Nation into the contemporary mainstream of the world around him.
Click here to read Randall Blaze's biography or see his art at the Akta Lakota Museum online gallery.
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Curator's Corner - Changing Times
A dramatic change in the Lakota (Sioux) way of life emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this time, the Lakota were the most prosperous tribe along the Upper Missouri River.
Within a few decades, Lakota culture evolved from semi-nomadic to completely nomadic.
The horse, imported by the Spanish, found its way to the Northern Plains in the 18th century. As a result, the Lakota, Cheyenne and other tribes were able to easily follow the bison herds, and Lakota bands started moving westward to Montana.
Click here to read more about how Lakota (Sioux) culture changed during this period.
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