Episode 1 of our series presents some of the most important origin stories that are still heard today among the Lakota.

The first story details the Creator giving of himself to make all the spirits and beings of the Universe. The Wind Cave story then highlights the formation of the Oceti Sakowin or Seven Council Fires. Next, the story of the Great Race emphasizes the spiritual mandate of the Oceti Sakowin to be caretakers of Unci Maka or Grandmother Earth. The fourth story tells of Pte San Win or the White Buffalo Calf Woman who is said to have brought the canunpa wakan or sacred pipe. Lastly, we hear the story of the Seven Star Dipper, otherwise known as the Big Dipper, as a visual representation of the Lakota's 7 spiritual ceremonies.

This is by no means a definitive collection of every Lakota origin story that has ever been told. Nonetheless, these are some of the significant stories that we came across in our interviews along with commentary as to why we think they are important.