Hi! Here’s my third inspired take from Black Bear’s and Simms’ “Otokahekaġapi, First Beginnings.” There would be nothing without the first powers giving of themselves. #ocetisakowin #lakota #dakota #greatplains #watercolor #creation #sun #moon #water #earth #stone

Hi! I was inspired to paint a watercolor after reading Black Bear’s and Simms’ “Otokahekaġapi (First Beginnings): Sioux Creation Story.” #ocetisakowin #lakota #dakota #greatplains #creation #warercolor #blue

Hi! I was inspired by “Otokahekaġapi (First Beginnings): Sioux Creation Story” by Ben Black Bear, Jr. (author) and Thomas Simms (illustrator). He’s my watercolor of Íŋyaŋ (Stone) giving his blood and breath for water and air. #ocetisakowin #lakota #creation #selfsacrifice #midsummer

Hi! I’m at White Butte, ND today. The state’s highest point. The Lakhóta know this summit as Pahá Makhásaŋsaŋ (White Earth Butte). #makhochewashte #beautifulcountry #indigenoushomeland #ochetishakowin #lakota #rememberstory #traditionalterritory

Waŋná Wétu. Waŋná Aŋbháŋkeya Wí. Oíyokiphi! Ómaka Técha! It is Spring. It is the Moon of Half Day and Half Night. Be joyous! It is the New Year! #lakota #ocetisakowin #newyear #dakotafloral #lakotaluminary #indigenous

Hi! The Lakhóta have a name for the body of water at the end of the Mississippi River. They call it Mní Tháŋka (The Great Water). Other First Nations have a name that predates the Spanish, French, and English colonial states. #gulfofindigenouswater #gulfofmexico #gulfofamerica #greatwater

Hi! I’m reading Taylor Keen’s “Rediscovering Turtle Island,” 2024. I even got a Lakota place name out of it. It’s a great contemporary read about indigenous occupation and remembered places. #turtleisland #indigenoushomeland #ocetisakowin #lakota #greatplains #traditionalhomelands

Most of what’s online about the Bismarck Indian Boarding School has been sanitized. Here’s an article to recenter that institution’s standing.

thefirstscout.blogspot.com/2025/01/bism...

Hi! Check out this Ochéti Shakówiŋ map of North Dakota. Download a hi-rez map at thefirstscout.blogspot.com. Look at the Ocheti Shakowin Territory Maps. #ocetisakowin #sevencouncilfires #lakota #dakota #sioux #northamerica #beautifulcountry

Hi! Check out this map I edited of the 1874 Black Hills Expedition. I replaced the English with Lakhota. #blackhills #lakota #traditionalhomeland #ochetishakowin #sevencouncilfires

Hau! The winter solstice is near. Here is the Fallen Star constellation and a song I heard an elder share during the winter solstice; it’s written in Lakota using the White Hat orthography, Txakini, Curley’s Alphabet, and my own Dakota Floral typeset. #wintersolstice #lakota