Lakota people : Ask Biography

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The Lakota (pronounced -siolaˈkˣota; also known as Lakȟóta, Teton, Tetonwan ("dwellers of the prairie"), Teton Sioux) are a Native American tribe. They are part of a confederation of seven related Sioux tribes (the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ or seven council fires) and speak Lakȟóta, one of the three major dialects of the Sioux language.

The Lakota are the western-most of the three Sioux-language groups, occupying lands in both North and South Dakota. The seven bands or "sub-tribes" of the Lakota are:

*Sičháŋǧu (a.k.a. Brulé, Burned Thighs)

*Oglála (a.k.a. Scatters their own)

*Itázipčho (a.k.a. Sans Arc, Without Bows)

*Húŋkpapȟa

*Mnikȟówožu (a.k.a. Mnicoujou)

*Sihásapa (a.k.a. Blackfoot Sioux)

*Oóhenuŋpa (a.k.a. Two Kettles)

Notable persons include Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (Sitting Bull) from the Hunkpapa band; and Tȟašúŋke Witkó (Crazy Horse) from the Oglala band, Maȟpíya Lúta (Red Cloud), Heȟáka Sápa (Black Elk), Sinte Gleška (Spotted Tail), Billy Mills and Touch the Clouds from the Oglala band.