Two Kettles


The Two Kettles or Two Boilings are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who, along with the Dakota, make up the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ. They reside on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
Together with the Itazipcho and Miniconjou they are referred to as Central Lakota and divided into several bands or tiyošpaye.

Historic Oóhenuŋpa thiyóšpaye or bands

  • Wanúŋwaktenula
  • Šúŋka Yúte šni
  • Mnišála
  • Oíglapta
The Oóhenuŋpa or Two Kettles were first part of the Mnikȟáŋwožu thiyóšpaye called Wáŋ Nawéǧa, split off about 1840 and became a separate oyáte or tribe.
According to ethnologist James Owen Dorsey, the Oóhenuŋpa were divided into two groups:
  1. Oohe noⁿpa
  2. Ma waqota

    History

Before 1843 explorers give no reference to this subdivision. The band appeared to number 800 people. At the usual average of seven people per lodge, that would make about 115 lodges, equating to 230 warriors at the norm of two per lodge. They were varyingly claimed to live among other herds of buffalo, or to live separate from other bands by the Cheyenne River and the Missouri River. They respected white traders and visitors and hunted skillfully. Early on they rarely engaged in warfare but later did so. Later still they signed a treaty agreeing not to attack others except in self-defense.

Notable Two Kettle Lakota people