About The First Scout

What I look like on a good day. 

Málakȟota (I Am Lakȟóta)
Haú mitákuyapi! Taŋyáŋ yahípi! Dakȟóta Tȟaté emáčiyapi. Čhaŋté Wakpá makȟóčhe el wathí. Íŋyaŋ Woslál Oyáŋke emátaŋhaŋ. Tȟaté na maȟpíya makȟóčhe he e čha el waútaŋhaŋ. Eháŋni leyápi, "Makȟóčhe Wašté le épelo," eyápi.

Greetings my friends and relatives! Welcome! My name is Dakota Wind. I live in Heart River country. I am from Standing Rock. I am from the land of sky and wind. A long time ago the people said, "This is the Beautiful Country!"


I am Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋna (Yanktonai) on my father's side and Húŋkphapȟa Lakȟóta on my mother's side. I was born and raised in Fort Yates on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. I dance in the Men's Traditional at the wačhípi (pow-wow). My Lakȟóta name is Ozúye Núŋpa ("Two Wars"), for my lalá (grandfather) who was in WWII and Korea.

I have a B.A. in Theology from the University of Mary. I have my M.A. in History from NDSU.

About the header...
I like the look and feel of pulp magazines. I've employed Albert Bierstadt "Indians Traveling Near Fort Laramie." My logo is part sci-fi and part old west magazine. Bierstadt's work has a graphic quality to it that lent it itself to use in creating this retro looking design. 

About the name of my blog..."The First Scout"
I used to work at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. It's more than a state park, it's also a state historic site. There were several cultural occupations of that site including Late Woodlands culture (from a 1000 years back), Mandan (1550-1781), Lewis & Clark (Oct. 20, 1804), and a US Military occupation (1872-1890) for which it is mostly known. Fort Abraham Lincoln was built at the northeasternmost point of Thítȟuŋwaŋ territory which is recognized in the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty. 

There were more than a few natives who worked at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park long before me, but I was the first native to work on the military side of the park. It was an opportunity to talk about the 1863-1864 Punitive Campaigns, the battle site across the river from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (the Apple Creek Fight of 1864), the Little Heart Butte Fight (about fifteen miles south and west of the park), the 1875 Treaty of Fort Abraham Lincoln, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the US Indian Scouts, and the fact that Fort Abraham Lincoln was also a prison camp for native prisoners during the Indian Wars. 

One day, an uncle of mine happened to visit the park and saw me working there. He exclaimed, "Tunwéya Tȟokáheya," which means, "The Scout Who Came From behind To Lead," when he saw me. I liked it and so I use it here. 

About Mystic Warriors of The High Plains
You might have heard of Thomas Mails' "Mystic Warriors of The Plains." I like that book title. I like that book enough to recommend it. I also just really like the word "mystic." An old word used to describe becoming one with the Creator. In a modern context, one might use this word to describe enlightenment. Make of it what you will. The First Nations established a relationship with the landscape, and many places were special in that people used them to commune with something bigger than themselves. 

Tokšá akhé! Until next time!