[Syd]

Artist and author Paul WarCloud (1930 – 1973) authored the Dakotah Sioux Indian Dictionary. He was 100% Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakotah and was fluent in the 3 dialects of the Sioux language. On page “x” of the dictionary’s introduction it says:

“The dialects in the Dakotah language differ because the major groups lived and traveled separately and yet kept continual close contact with each other. The Dakotah’s (I refer to the three major groups), about 1200 A.D., occupied territories which are now parts of Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and the Carolina’s prior to migration westward into present Minnesota & the Dakota states.”

He also explained that the Sioux language is broken up into 3 dialects: “Dakotah” is the Santee dialect, in the Teton dialect it is pronounced “Lakotah” and in the Yankton dialect, it is pronounced “Nakotah.” (Others on this site may have known this already, but this is new info for me. I’m glad to finally understand this).

Then toward the end of the dictionary on page 188 he wrote:

“The Dakotah’s came into contact with many other tribes. They called other tribes as a whole “or “ikceun” (the common people). They also called them “toka” (enemy). Below is a list of other people or tribes they came in contact:”

Then he lists 33 groups (including the white man, various tribes, French and German folks). One of the entries for a people the Dakotah’s came in contact with reads:

“Blackfoot: Sihasapa (see-HA-sah-pah), “The Black Footed People” (The Blackfoot should not be confused with the Blackfeet band of the Dakotah’s)”

I think this is an unfortunate mistake as I’m sure he intended to refer to the Siksika – Algonquin speaking folks!

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