Native Tribal Relationship to Land

and FoodDr. Reverend Clifford Canku,

Retired Faculty, Dakota Studies

North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Dakota Nation Land

According to Dakota oral traditions, legends and history, the Dakota Nation were always living in the area of the Minnesota River and Mille Lacs Lake.

Picture Source: http://www.d.umn.edu/~bart0412/Cause.htm

Mitakuye Owasiŋ - Reciprocity

• Kinship Relationship

• Dakota

• Other Tribal Nations

• The Creator

Dakota People

Kinship

Relations

Other Tribal Nations

The Creato

r

Responsibility to Unci Maka

• Dakota belief is that all living things originate from a great, mysterious Creator.

• Relational connection to their Creator

Dakota Relationship to Land

Land cannot be divided because it was used by everyone (Meyer 1993, pg. 40)

Image Source: http://mn.audubon.org/minnesota-important-bird-areas

Dakota Relationship to Food

• Food is a natural nutritious gift from the Creator.

• Original genetic relationship of Creation to the Creator

• Spiritual – Natural Ecology

Wild Rice – P’sin - Manoomin

• Endowed with spiritual attributes

• Recounted in legends and dreams

• Ceremonial use

• Social aspect of harvest in late summer

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Manoomin_picking%2C_1905%2C_Minnesota.jpg

Commercial Exploitation

• Commercial sale of wild rice by non-Indians

• Modern agriculture practices

• Pollution of water by sulfates from mining operations.

• Research by John Moyle

Image Source: www.friends-bwca.org

Government in Traditional Indian Culture

• Little distinction between political and spiritual world.

• Political decisions made with spiritual guidance.

Image of painting titled “Sioux Indian Council” by Capt. Seth Eastman, 1852

Thank you for your time, attention and respectful acceptance.

Are there any questions?