Book Review: These Were the Sioux

 These Were the Sioux by Mari Sandoz, Illustrations from Amos Bad Heart Bull and Kills Two, University Of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1961.

Mari Sandoz was a neighbor to the Sioux and she writes from her experience as a friend to the Sioux.  This is a very good book about Sioux culture.

Some examples of Sioux culture that I found interesting:  The often had second parents assigned and would keep the birth parents from having to provide harsh discipline.

The book provides insight into Sioux custom with regards to gender roles.  There is a large party after a young woman has her first period.  The children play together until about ten when boys and girls have separate activities.  There are specific guidelines for courtship, which is mostly done by the watering hole when the young women get water.  There are also rules around marriage.  Th more formal is done via gifts, while there are those who just go off together.  

This book describes the Sun Dance which was performed in conjunction with the buffalo hunt.  Part of the ritual was to bring on dreams.  Sitting Bull had such a dream where he saw many whites coming into camp.  This was shortly Before Cusger and his men attacked the camp and were destroyed.