Lakota Sioux Creation Mythology::

The Pte Cycle (James R. Walker)

The Pte people dwelled in the regions beneath the earth. There they established the first council. They walked on their hind legs, used their forelegs to work with, and had no fur, no snouts and no tails. They were a very powerful nation. There were more children than youths there, more youths than young people, more young people than adults, and more adults than old people. Before they were banished to the surface of the earth, Wazi and his wife Kanka ruled over this subterranean region. Wazi was a leader and a holy man, and Kanka was a wise seer. Their daughter, Ite, was renowned for her beauty and eventually became the wife of Tate, the spirit of the wind. Ksa, spirit of wisdom and knowledge, had imparted his influence upon the Pte so that harmony and peace prevailed among them. Occasionally, however, Iya or Gnas, son of Unk and opponent of Ksa, would enter among the Pte and stir their tempers, rouse such passions as greed and vanity and cause friction among them. He also stole their food so that at times they had none.

The birds and animals lived, also harmoniously, in neighbouring communities:

"The beasts having hoofs dwelt in one community, those having claws in another; those that dug in the ground in another and those that built shelters in still another. The birds having talons flocked together, as did those that swam or waded. Those that nested on the ground were in one flock and those that nested above the ground in another" (Walker 1983: 269).¹

However, Gnas again disguised himself and appeared amidst these contented societies to stir them up. By pitting one animal or bird against the other, he managed to cause turmoil and contention. Eventually, even Ksa found himself caught up in Gnas' schemes and as a punishment by the spirits, Ksa was transformed into Iktomi, Trickster, whose appearance closely resembles that of Gnas.

After Wazi and Kanka had been banished to the ends of the world and their daughter Ite had been transformed into Anog-Ite, the Pte had no one to lead them. Moreover, after Ksa had been transformed into Iktomi, the Pte had no spirit of wisdom to guide them. During this time there was an important figure among the Pte - Tatanka. Hu Nonp, an important member of the bear community, approached Tatanka and sought permission to teach him the ways of the drum, the rattle, sacred singing and dancing - methods that would please the spirits. Hu Nonp also taught Tatanka how he could lead the Pte people effectively. Tatanka then taught the Pte the methods he had learned and became their leader. He also became the companion of Wi, the sun, and was made a spirit. Hu Nonp, the bear, became the new spirit of wisdom for he had learned much from the spirits during his lifetime.

Notes::

• 1 - James R. Walker. 1983. Lakota Myth. Edited by Elaine A. Jahner. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.