The Spirit And The Sky, A Book Review
Astronomer's Study Of Lakota Starscape
By Dakota Wind
Hollabaugh, Mark. The Spirit and the Sky: Lakota Visions of the Cosmos. Lincoln, NB:
University of Nebraska Press. 2017. 276 + xii pages. $50.00 (hardcover).
Illustrations, tables, photos, notes, bibliography, and index.
The title of Hollabaugh’s The Spirit and the Sky calls to mind
Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 psychedelic/gospel classic rock anthem Spirit in the Sky. I contacted the author about
this, and he personally assured me that the title of his book is inspired by
Lakȟóta star knowledge (which is touched on at the end of chapter 9).
Hollabaugh’s bibliography draws heavily
from non-native resources who’ve spent considerable time learning Lakȟól
Wičhóȟ’aŋ (Lakota language, tradition, lifeways, philosophy) direct from the
Lakȟóta themselves. These resources reach back through the years with specific
references to winter count (pictographic records) years, and recorded oral
tradition.
What makes The Spirit in the Sky special is that Hollabaugh draws on carefully
constructed relationships with contemporary Dakhóta and Lakȟóta people since
the ‘90s, and fully acknowledges lasting friendships with scholars, native and
non-native in his preface.
A chapter on Telling Time gives readers an insight into how the Lakȟóta reckon a
year (generally thirteen months), a month (a lunar month; from new moon to new
moon), and seasons (winter is the longest, and why a year is called a
“winter”). The times of the month are explained (phases of the moon) as well as
times of day (position of the sun). Counting sticks are touched on briefly
insofar as the Lakȟóta attempts to measure the months and years, which is frustrating to any who try to tack down exact times. The general
acceptance of natural time in the Lakȟóta tradition encourages a non-reliance of
exactness. What matters is Wókiksuye, or Remembrance.
A chapter on Eclipses and the Aurora Borealis examines Lakȟóta beliefs of the
two events. The eclipse is regarded as the sun’s death by many Lakȟóta, and
some reacted with fear. Some said/say that a great serpent swallows the sun,
but the sun proves victorious and lives again, and some fire their guns or
holler into the air in triumph. The Northern Lights have several names, and
several narratives – none more important than another. Surprising to this
reviewer is the connection of the Northern Lights to Woȟpé (Falling Star Woman)
of Lakȟóta myth-history, and to the Huŋkáyapi (the Making-of-Relatives; when
one is taken as a relative).
A chapter on Stars and Constellations explores the cultural narratives of the
night sky. Many of the same familiar Greek and Arabic constellations have
Lakȟóta counterparts with equally interesting stories. The children of the Sun
and Moon dance forever around one wakȟáŋ (with-energy; “holy,” or “sacred”)
star, Wičháȟpi Owáŋžila (The Star That Does Not Move), and those who do not,
fall down as
Hollabaugh doesn’t conclude his study
with the establishment of the reservation era. His work breaks that tired trope
and includes an entire chapter dedicated to the living tradition of Lakȟóta
star knowledge. It’s necessary to show the Lakȟóta as they are today, survivors
of a system that has tried to extinguish language, culture, and tradition. Some
of Hollabaugh’s native resources and informants are still alive and still
sharing.
What makes The Spirit in the Sky an essential for studies of the North
American Plains is that the Lakȟóta relationship with the land is reflected in
the sky. The Lakȟóta star stories are
indigenous and to hear them, one must go to an elder to hear them. This book is a good place to become acquainted.
The only thing that would make reading
this resource better would be to read, deconstruct, and interpret each topic as
it’s mentioned with a Lakȟóta elder or other knowledgeable person. It would be
a wonderful supplement if Hollabaugh or his publisher included a slideshow or
an interactive online feature or smartphone application to articulate the heavens as one goes through
each chapter.
The
Spirit in the Sky isn’t
hearty enough for college instructors to develop an entire course around –
Hollabaugh might even agree with this, but it is solid enough to pique anyone’s
interest whether he or she have a passive or deep interest in the stars or
Lakȟóta views of the heavens and earth. Make certain your local library has a copy, or get yourself one.
Dakota Wind is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He is currently a university student working on a degree in History with a focus on American Indian and Western History. He maintains the history website The First Scout.
Dakota Wind is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He is currently a university student working on a degree in History with a focus on American Indian and Western History. He maintains the history website The First Scout.
