Sioux Indians: Culture, Beliefs, and Lifestyle

1. Who was in charge?

2. Who was in charge? The Sioux Indians did not have written laws. They had a Council instead. The talking stick was used by Native Americans to show who had the right to speak.

3. Battle Often went to war because they wanted horses Could go to war over an insult or a new hunting ground The preferred form of battle was a surprise raid. On average 20-30 men would go on. Women very rarely took part in a raid.

4. Beliefs • The Sioux were very spiritual • They believed in one god, WakanTanka • People spoke to the spirit world through music and dance.

5. Health and Medicine Native American Proverb“When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.” • The Medicine Man was expected to: • predict the future, • advise the tribe, • cast love spells, • heal the sick • protect the tribe from evil spirits. • When people fell ill, Medicine Men asked the spirits to send down the power to make them well.

6. Health and Medicine Native American Medicine Wheel The Native American medicine wheel was used for healing almost any illness. The Native Americans believe that illnesses are spiritual not physical. To heal illnesses you need to fix your spirituality. The wheel helped them diagnose an illness and begin curing it.

7. Lifestyle Lived in houses that were easy to build They were normally made up of buffalo skin and sticks. They had simple but beautiful art on them. Indians ate many different kinds of food such as buffalo, corn, nuts, beans and squash.

8. Family Life Awealthy man might have more than one wife. Polygamy = having more than one wife at the same time The wife was highly honoured because she did all the work except hunting, fishing and fighting. She was well treated.

9. The Sioux married young - between 12-15 years old. Sioux women usually gave birth to around 3 or 4 children Children did not go to school. They learnt by copying adults. They spoilt their children The children were rarely punished Family Life