Dakota History

Dakota War of 1862, by Kenneth Carley  Well documented and detailed book on the Dakota War of 1862.

 

Through Dakota Eyes:  Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862, by Gary Clayton Anderson.

The Peace Seekers, by Dr. Elden Lawrence.  Detail of the Dakota War of 1862 from a Christian perspective.  This is a hard to find book.  *Check Pine Hill Press, see contact information below.

Music and Culture

Teton Sioux Music & Culture, by Frances Densmore   A good source on music and culture, used in current college level Lakota Culture classes.

The Sioux, by Royal B. Hassrick.  A good source on traditional culture, used in current college level Lakota Culture classes.

Keep Going, the art of Perseverance, by Joseph M. Marshall.   This book is a collection of stories intertwined with narration between a grandfather and a grandson.  It is a unique way to "see" the culture, and the wisdom that is imparted by each story is very thought provoking.

Stubborn Fool, by Estelle Aubrey Brown  (Out of print, but may obtain through library or used book store.)  Estelle was a teacher to the Sioux in Dakota Territory.  She documents her experience.  It is a rare look at Indian country from a woman's perspective.  Her book also helps explain the beginnings of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), many of the problems encountered and misunderstandings, which are the foundation of the situation that exists today.

 

Sister of the Sioux, by Elaine Goodale Eastman . Elaine was a teacher when single and then married a Lakota Sioux doctor.  She and her husband, Charles Eastman were both present in the aftermath of the Wounded Knee Massacre.   It gives a rare view from a woman's perspective.

 

Any books by Charles Eastman.  He was a young man that grew up in Indian culture, then went east to school, became a doctor, and returned to help his people.  He was married to Elaine Goodale Eastman.  He documents much of his life.  He has many books, all well written.

Black Elk Speaks, by John G. Neihardt.   John Neihardt recorded an interview with Black Elk at the end of his life.  It shows a unique perspective from the past as well as Black Elk's view of the coming future.  Very well known book and easily available.

Indian Christian Perspective

One Church Many Tribes:  Following Jesus the Way God Made You, by Richard Twiss.  Richard Twiss is a Christian Indian Lakota Sioux tribal member.  He  has a website:  www.wiconi.com which provides extensive resources and information.

 

Two Volunteer Missionaries Among the Dakotas, by S.W. Pond Jr. (Out of print, but may obtain through library or used book store.) The Pond brothers were missionaries to the Dakota in the 1800s. 

 

John P. Williamson:  A Brother to the Sioux, by Winifred W. Barton (Out of print, but may obtain through library or used book store.) John P. Williamson was a missionary to the Dakota in the 1800s.  He arrived after the Pond brothers.

Mary and I, Forty Years with the Sioux, by Stephen R. Riggs.  Reprinted in Jan 2010, this book could previously only by found in used book stores or the library.   Stephen Riggs was a missionary to the Dakota in the 1800s.  He arrived after the Pond brothers.

Sunset to Sunset, by Thomas Lawrence Riggs .  Thomas Riggs was the son of Stephen Riggs and missionary to the Dakota.  He spent much of his life in the Pierre,SD area as a missionary.

 

The Peace Seekers, by Dr. Elden Lawrence.  Intimate detail of the Dakota War of 1862 from the Christian perspective.  This is a hard to find book.  *Check Pine Hill Press, see contact information below.

 

Sioux-Lineage Curly Horses

 

Spirit Beings & Sun Dancers:  Black Hawk's Vision of the Lakota World, by Janet Catherine Berlo.  Pages 84-87, 96-97, and 100-101 contain information and early drawings of Curly Horses.

 

Language

An English-Dakota Dictionary, by John P. Williamson.

A Dakota-English Dictionary, by Stephen R. Riggs.

Lakota Dictionary, compiled and edited by Eugene Buechel and Paul Manhart.

 

------------------------------------

 

The Dakota people originally came from the Minnesota area, therefore the Minnesota Historical Society is a great resource.  You can search their site:  http://www.mnhs.org/index.htm .  Look under "Shop" and go to "American Indians" to find much information.

 

A couple of sources for used books are:  www.abebooks.com and www.amazon.com.

 

*Pine Hill Press; 4000 W 57^th Street; Sioux Falls, SD 57106; 605.362.9200; 800.676.4228; email:  print@ pinehillpress.com.