Outline of Sioux History

History The Sioux Nation contained about twenty thousand people in seven different tribes throughout the Northern Great plains. The Sioux were originally part of the seven council fires, Oceti Sakowin, which was made up of seven bands: four Dakota, two nakota and one teton or lakota band. The word “Sioux” originated from the near by Chippewa tribe where they called the Oceti Sakowin Nadoweisiw meaning “little snakes”. The French later corrupted the term to nadowessioux …

…It was said that the Black Hills were where the Sioux people originated from. At bear butte on the east edge of black hills was where the creator left his sacred instructions to them. Ever since that day Bear Butte is the most sacred of all places in which the Sioux and Cheyenne come for the vision quest. When Sioux die it is said that the spirit of the Sioux rests in the black hills.