Heyoka, Sun Dance And Lakota Culture

By Angela Fisher


While there are many cultural aspects with regard to Native American tribes, most differ in comparison. The lakota culture hosts a number of interesting ceremonies and figures not found in other tribes. One such figure is that of Heyoka, a sacred clown which is associated with the lakota people of North America.

Another aspect of this culture is that of the Heyoka. While the Heyoka has ties to both the Sioux and lakota, which is actually a branch of of the Sioux, it is only tribal members whom have been visited by thunder that have been accepted by the larger community as a Heyoka. In the simplest terms, a Heyoka is a sacred clown or jester whom reacts in opposition to others through speaking out, satirist moves and contrarian acts.

Sun Dance remains one of the most well known Native American rituals of the Lakota people. While practiced by Indigenous tribes of North America and Canada, the ceremony is a coming together of different tribes to pray for healing which involves a sacrificial act. While this is the case, there are also a number of pow wows in which tribal members come together in full regalia to celebrate, pray and practice ceremonies and rituals associated with the tribe.

The Sun Dance and other ceremonies were originally prohibited by the United States and Canadian governments. The purpose of prohibition was to suppress these and other aspects of Indigenous culture which included preventing the tribes from using Native languages associated with various tribes and tribal culture. While Canada lifted the ban on Indigenous practices in the 1960s, the United States kept the ban in place until the late 1970s.

The Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Aleuts and Eskimos gained protection through an act of the United States Congress which gave protection to the tribes along with preserving the religious and cultural rights associated with each of the tribes. After which, tribes could once again practice the ceremonies, rituals and speak using the native language of the tribe.

The practice known as Sun Dance is considered a test of spiritual and physical endurance. In most cases, young male tribal members dance around a pole to which a member is attached by thongs and experience a piercing of chest skin. While not all include piercing, the purpose is to offer a ritual sacrifice to family and community. As such, dancers are often known to fast in all types of weather conditions for several days leading up to the ceremony.

As the ritual is considered a sacred ceremony, most tribal members are hesitant to discuss the event in detail. In fact, given the long period of misappropriation, many tribes are concerned that outsiders will abuse these and other rituals. As such, the words spoken during ceremonies and rituals are often the native language of tribe.

Later, the Lakota people passed a declaration of war associated with exploiting the tribe. The declaration was originated and unanimously passed at an event known as the Lakota Summit V. After which, those caught using the ceremonies, rituals or exploiting the tribe in any way could be prosecuted, tried and punished under a local tribunal court.




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