The Canadian Sioux

4. Traditional History

30 4 TRADITIONAL HISTORY The mythologies and folktales of a people often reveal many things about that group not intended by the story teller. As E. B. Tylor, the eminent nineteenth-century British anthropologist remarked, “Were nothing to be had out of ancient poetry except distorted memories of historical events, the anthropologist might be wise to set it aside altogether. Yet, looked at from another point of view, it is one of his most perfect and exact sources of knowledge” (Tylor 1930:113). What Tylor refers to is the inclusion in myths and legends of bits of detail telling us not only of former customs, long abandoned in a culture, as well as more recent accretions demonstrating how the culture has changed. The Canadian Sioux, who possess a lively historical tradition, are no exception to the general rule, and in the little more than a century that they have dwelt on Canadian soil have begun to develop in their oral tradition interesting accounts of how they came to be there and the events that led up to their exodus from the United States. These accounts, although they may depart from documented historical fact, are quite revealing as to how the Sioux themselves interpret and remember these events. In 1972 I recorded two excellent traditional histories at Birdtail Reserve, one from Simon Hanska (Mdewakanton band, age 73) and one from George Bear (Yanktonai band, age 93). Both men are held in high repute as tribal historians not only on their own reserve, but also at Sioux Valley. As is common with historians in many cultures, each has little regard for the other as a historian. Traditional History 31 The two accounts are presented here as representative examples of oral history and should be taken as such, not judged by the standards of academic historians. SIMON HANSKA’S ACCOUNT The Dakota originated in the east. The earliest place mentioned is Psiŋhú Wakpá “Wild Rice River.” This must be the Saint Lawrence River in the area of the present Quebec City. They were there four or five hundred years ago. When they were there they met the Šagdáša [English]. The English fought the French at that time and the Sioux helped the English. After this the Sioux came on the south side of the river. They came to a place called Two Mountains, in the present state of Ohio. From here they came to Nice Bank where they were neighbors of the Hotháŋke (Winnebagos). Then they came north of Miracle Valley to Wiyáka Othína “Dwellers on the Sand.” From there they came to Minnesota. In 1850 [1851] they negotiated their first treaty with the United States. They negotiated nine treaties in all, each time giving up more land. They were supposed to get money (annuities) from this but they did not. This led to the Minnesota Uprising. In 1864 they came to Winnipeg and asked the officials for permission to stay. As proof of their old friendship with the English they showed the officials old British medals and flags. The Canadian officials were surprised to see these. Governor Morris said, “You can stay. We will buy land from the Cree [Plains Ojibwas] for you.” At first they settled near Portage but in 1864 they left and walked to Griswold [Sioux Valley]. They came here, to Birdtail Reserve, in 1875. The Wild Rice River of Mr. Hanska’s account may perhaps be intended for the river of that name in Minnesota, a tributary of the Red River of the North, which rises in Clearwater County, Minnesota, and flows through Mahnomen and Norman counties. There is no historical material that would support a location of the Sioux on the St. Lawrence River. Nor is there historical evidence that any substantial number of Eastern Sioux took part in the French and Indian Wars, although many were active on 32 THE CANADIAN SIOUX the British side in the War of 1812. Wiyáka Othína, given in this account as a place name, is the name of one of the Wahpeton bands listed by Ashley (Riggs 1893:158). By the treaty of 1851 the Santees transferred to the United States all their lands in Iowa, the Dakotas, and Minnesota except for a tract on the upper Minnesota River which they reserved for their future occupancy. The English medals and flags owned by the Santees in the mid-nineteenth century may...