Political Organization

The Oceti Sakowin or Seven Council Fires (the Sioux)

Political Division Reservation Location Dialect Division Geographic Division
Teton

a. Oglala: They Scatter Their Own

b. Sincangu: Burned Thighs

c. Hunkpapa: End of the Circle

d. Miniconju: Planters Beside the           Stream         

e. Sihasapa: Black Foot (not           Algonquian)

f. Oohenunpa: Two Kettles

g. Itazipco: Without Bows

  

Pine Ridge

Rosebud and Lower Brule

Standing Rock

Cheyenne River

 
Cheyenne River
 
 
Cheyenne River

Cheyenne River

 Lakota Western
Yankton

a. Yankton: End of Camp Circle            Dwellers

b. Yanktonais: Little End Dwellers

Santee

a. Mdewakanton: People of Spirit           Lake

b. Wahpeton: Leaf Dwellers

c. Sisseton: People of the Marsh

d. Wahpekute: Leaf Shooters

  

Yankton

 
Crow Creek

 

Flandreau

 
Sisseton

Sisseton

Flandreau
 Nakota

 

 

 

Dakota

 Middle

 

 

 

Eastern

The people of the Oceti Sakowin call themselves Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota which translates into "friend" or "ally." They share three mutually intelligible dialects of the same language. The term "Sioux" is a French corruption of an Algonquian word meaning little adders or little enemies and is commonly used to describe the Oceti Sakowin.

SD State Archives,  605-773-3804, fax 605-773-6041; email archref@state.sd.us