Miniconjou


The Miniconjou are a Native American people constituting a subdivision of the Lakota people, who formerly inhabited an area in western present-day South Dakota from the Black Hills in to the Platte River. The contemporary population lives mostly in west-central South Dakota. Perhaps the most famous Miniconjou chief was Touch the Clouds.

Historic Miniconjou thiyóšpaye or bands

Together with the Sans Arc and Two Kettles they were often referred to as Central Lakota and divided into several bands or thiyóšpaye:
  • Unkche yuta
  • Glaglaheca
  • Shunka Yute Shni
  • Nige Tanka
  • Wakpokinyan
  • Inyan ha oin
  • Siksicela or Shikshichela
  • Wagleza-oin
  • Wanhin Wega
  • Tall Bear
The Oóhenuŋpa or Two Kettles were first part of the Miniconjou thiyóšpaye called Wanhin Wega, split off about 1840 and became a separate oyate or tribe.

Miniconjou leaders

Joseph White Bull explained that prior to being confined to the reservation in the late 19th century, the Miniconjou recognized six hereditary leaders within their tribe, who were chosen from each clan. These men were:
  • Kiyoukanpi 'Makes Room'
  • Wahacanka Sapa 'Black Shield'
  • He Isnala 'Lone Horn' of a Minneconjou band called the Wakpokinyan
  • White Hollow Horn
  • Magaska 'White Swan'
  • Okinyan 'Comes Flying'
These men became renowned war chiefs among the Miniconjou, rising through the ranks of the men's warrior societies. "They were treated as chiefs because of this," White Bull explained, "They wore shirts decorated with scalps." He identified these two leaders as:
  • Taachka Ooshta 'Lame Deer'
  • Wi Sapa 'Black Moon'
Other notable Miniconjou:
  • Ituhu Hanska 'High Forehead'
  • Kanku Wakatuya ' Hump' or 'High Backbone'
  • White Bull, son of Makes Room
  • Big Crow, son of Black Shield
  • Maphiua Icahtagya 'Touch the Clouds', son of Lone Horn
  • Mahto Cikala 'Little Bear', son of White Hollow Horn
  • Magaska 'White Swan', son of White Swan
  • Kiyoukanpi 'Comes Flying'
  • Crazy Heart, son of Lame Deer
  • Hehaka Galeshka 'Spotted Elk', son of Lone Horn, half-brother of Touches the Clouds
  • Hehaka Galeshka 'Chief Spotted Elk', later known as Si Tanka 'Chief Big Foot'
  • Dewey Beard
  • Mahto Wanahtake 'Kicking Bear'
  • Etokeah ' Hump'