How may I find out about my Lakota Heritage?

Question

My mother and 5 of her siblings were adopted when they were young. They had ended up in foster homes in Iowa and when my mother's adoptive parents went through the adoption process the social worker kept asking them were they sure they wanted to adopt 6 Indian kids because they were in a rural area and would stand out. My grandparents didn't give up on the process and took all 6 of them into their home and hearts. They even put them back into contact with their other brothers in South Dakota. One of my Aunts discovered that we have Lakota Sioux in our background. I am now a mother and I want to be able to share this heritage with my daughter. Would anyone have any information on how to go about this? I would love to find out more about my family's background and to be able to share it with everyone.

Answer 1

Sioux is the French word coming from a tribe named Nadenwessensioux from the 1700s. The Lakota, Dakota, and the Nakota are the three major families of the Lakota Nation--often called the Sioux.

Within the Lakota are seven additional sub-families, comprising of the Hunkpapa (think Sitting Bull), Ogalla (think Crazy Horse and Red Cloud), Miniconjou, Sans Arc, Brule, Two Kettles, and one that doesn't come to mind, but which I think are called the Cut Knives.

Yours is a rich heritage and fine research might begin with South Dakota's Sioux Indian Museum in Rapid City. You can always use an Internet search engine (Google, Yahoo!) to pull up additional information.

A few years ago I had corresponded by e-mail with a full-blood Oglalla living in South Dakota. He had contacted me initially after reading a letter I had posted to WildWest magazine. I learned much from him about little unknown things about the Oglalla--particularly of Crazy Horse.

I regret I cannot offer anything else substantial to your desire to know your people, but it can come if you dig deeply.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

http://www.olc.edu/info.php

Some of the links here don't work, but the college exists.

For enrollment purposes, my understanding is that the documentation requires birth certificate showing the actual parents, and that is an issue when there is an adoption. But, your question is not about enrollment, so that should not stop you.

In absolute honesty.. I am very uncomfortable with numerous requests to find Native lineage, only for the purpose of getting "benefits". It is very refreshing that your question is not based in that, but truly wanting your valid heritage. A blessing on your grandparents for their open attitude.

edit-

when I say "enrollment", my meaning was tribal enrollment, not college enrollment. Not the same thing.

Answer 3

I'd say you shouldn't be so quick to embrace the culture that threw your mother and her siblings away like yesterday's garbage.

Oh yes thats so much better.... instead of embracing ppl who threw their children away you're embracing a child molester and the woman who let him get away with it. Knock yourself out.

Answer 4

Im originally from SD. Although not at all from Lakota heritage I have been to the St. Josephs Indian School is Chamberlain South Dakota many times. Try them- http://www.stjo.org/

Good luck!