Sicangu Wicotiwin

Sicangu Wicotiwin
Name	Sicangu Wicotiwin
Other names	Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Location	Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota
Languages	Lakota
Related	Oglala Lakota, Brulé

Sicangu Wicotiwin is the Lakota name for the band commonly known in English as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a federally recognized Native American reservation community primarily located on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in what is today Todd County, South Dakota and adjacent to Tripp County, South Dakota. The people are part of the Lakota people and the larger Sioux nation, with cultural, kinship, and political ties to bands such as the Oglala Lakota and the Sicangu Lakota. Sicangu Wicotiwin maintain institutions that interact with federal entities like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians.

Introduction

Sicangu Wicotiwin refers to the Sicangu band within the Lakota people who historically inhabited regions across the Northern Plains including parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and North Dakota. The band is connected to historic events like the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and conflicts involving the Sioux Wars, including engagements related to the Battle of Little Bighorn era and the aftermath involving leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Contemporary governance interfaces with entities like the United States Department of the Interior and legal frameworks including decisions from the United States Supreme Court.

History

The Sicangu band participated in migratory buffalo hunts across the Great Plains and maintained trade relationships with groups such as the Cheyenne and Arapaho while interacting with arrival-era explorers like Lewis and Clark and traders linked to the American Fur Company. Treaties including the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851) and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 affected land tenure, followed by allotment policies under the Dawes Act and federal relocation initiatives exemplified by Indian boarding schools such as institutions associated with the Bureau of Indian Education. Prominent Sicangu figures intersected with pan-Lakota personalities like Red Cloud and activists who engaged with movements including those at Wounded Knee and later advocacy through groups like the American Indian Movement.

Governance and Organization

The tribal government of Sicangu Wicotiwin operates within frameworks established by federal law, engaging in government-to-government relations with the United States through agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and program partnerships with the Indian Health Service. Tribal administration uses constitutions and codes influenced by precedents such as the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and participates in intertribal bodies like the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes and national networks including the Indian Health Board. Leadership roles mirror structures found across Rosebud Sioux Tribe governance, collaborating with legal counsel on issues litigated in venues such as the U.S. District Court and appeals to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Culture and Language

Cultural life centers on Lakota spiritual practices, ceremonies including the Sun Dance and Powwow gatherings that draw participants from nations like the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Language revitalization emphasizes Lakota language instruction, often in partnership with academic institutions such as the University of South Dakota and programs modeled after immersion efforts like those at Diné College and the Institute of American Indian Arts. Artistic traditions include beadwork and quillwork comparable to collections held by museums like the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of the American Indian, while oral histories preserve narratives of leaders like Spotted Tail and cultural heroes referenced in ethnographies by scholars such as Elaine Goodale Eastman and George Catlin.

Economy and Programs

Economic development includes enterprises similar to tribal ventures found at properties like Prairie Winds Casino and other gaming operations regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Social services coordinate with federal programs administered by the Indian Health Service and health initiatives funded by agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Education and workforce efforts partner with institutions like South Dakota State University and federal initiatives including grants from the Administration for Native Americans. Infrastructure and housing initiatives often rely on funding mechanisms from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and programs like Indian Community Development Block Grant.

Land and Territory

The Sicangu homeland encompasses the Rosebud Indian Reservation and historically contiguous prairielands that were affected by policies enacted after treaties such as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and the Treaty of 1851 (Fort Laramie). Land issues have invoked statutes like the Dawes Act, litigation invoking doctrines adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court, and land management practices coordinated with agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation, grazing rights, and water access intersect with regional concerns involving the Missouri River basin and projects like the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program.

Contemporary Issues and Relations

Present challenges and initiatives engage federal agencies including the Indian Health Service and policy forums like hearings before the United States Congress and committees such as the House Committee on Natural Resources. Sicangu leaders and activists collaborate with organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and advocacy groups such as the Native American Rights Fund on matters ranging from tribal sovereignty to environmental protection against projects like Keystone XL and litigation related to fossil fuel development. Cross-jurisdictional cooperation involves neighboring entities including South Dakota state agencies, regional nonprofits, and national institutions such as the National Indian Health Board.

Category:Native American tribes in South Dakota Category:Lakota