VOCABULARY Lakota One of three divisions of the Oceti Sakowin Seven Council Fires Native American tribe living primarily on the western plains of South Dakota Tiospaye Lakota term for an extended family group living together in a small community Tribe Two or more groups of tiospayes tiospaye ki whose members collectively form a larger group of Native Americans He Sapa Lakota name for the Black Hills Wasna A dish that consisted of dried berries dried buffalo and fat Considered a healing dish Wotawe A medicine pouch filled with items that offer protection to its wearer
ONE BEGINNING Great Sioux Reservation Dakota Territory 1880 The prairie had been very still the day the whites came The animals stayed tucked in their burrows most of the day The grasses had not danced in the wind Clouds had not appeared in the blue sky It was as if the prairie itself knew of what was to come Sister Bear said pointing What is that I looked up from the basket I was mending to see a wagon approach in a cloud of dust I knew immediately it was the whites Before Cousin had died from the meat sickness she and I often talked about them What do you think the whites look like she had asked 1
