Lakota Star Knowledge: Studies In Lakota Stellar Theology

by Ronald Goodman, Alan Seeger (Editor)

Throughout the Americas, Native North American groups throughout the hemisphere have been avid watchers of the sky and have carefully noted the cyclic patterns of the Sun and Moon, the stars, and planets. In earlier years, they had to heed the teachings of celestial events in order to survive.
One of the primary impediments to interpreting sky-related traditions is today’s general lack of observational experience. Even many professional astronomers have little experience with naked eye observations. Yet naked eye observation allows one to construct a highly accurate calendar using the ordered patterns and motions of the celestial bodies. Native American groups also watched the motions of the planets, as well as other appearances including comets, meteor showers, and lunar and solar eclipses, in order to guide their lives. This book is concerned with regular celestial events that provided sacred order to the Lakota. The following pages summarize the primary stellar and solar features a naked eye observer would be able to follow and relate these observations to observational practices of Native North Americans.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2014

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating introduction to the world of Lakota astronomy and spirituality.

A Facebook comment prompted me to read this book. The commenter mentioned that astronomical evidence indicated the Lakota had lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota for thousands of years. A search for confirmation led me to this book, and I am glad it did!

Every culture has its own constellations and interpretations of the night sky; most of us in the West have learned the Greek and Roman constellations. This book lays out the findings of researchers at Sinte Gleska University about the star knowledge of another culture: the Lakota. Their "stellar theology," as presented here, is gleaned from interviews with dozens of elders listed at the end of the book.

It seems to be a collection of papers that were not necessarily written as a single book, but this is never explained.

I get the impression that this is only a sliver of the true knowledge and theology the native inhabitants of this land had. It leaves me wanting to know more.

[Brad Neuhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relatively small book, but dense with information. It goes beyond just astronomy and constellations to deeper insights into Lakota belief systems and ways of knowing, and how they are encoded in the stars.