Contents Homelands 4 Society 6 Homes 8 Food 10 Clothing 12 Crafts 14 Family 16 Children 18 Traditions 20 War 22 Contact with Europeans 24 Sitting Bull 26 The Sioux Today 28 Glossary 30 Online Resources 31 Index 32
CHAPTER 1 Homelands The Sioux name comes from the Ojibwa word Nadouessioux nay-doo-we-sue It means little snakes or lesser enemies In the 1700s French traders and trappers shortened this Ojibwa word to Sioux However the Sioux nation call themselves Oceti Sakowin oh-shet-ee shah-ko-ween which means Seven Council Fires Many Sioux creation stories say their homelands were in the Black Hills of present-day South Dakota The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux people Others say the Sioux came from the woodlands of present-day northern Minnesota By the time Europeans arrived in America the Sioux controlled most of the Great Plains 4
Many Sioux still live in the Black Hills of South Dakota This region gets its name because its tree covered hills appear black when viewed from far away
