Drawing Lakota Lessons from an Anthem

"Tȟawápaha Olówaŋ" (Lakota Flag Song)

posted on February 28, 2014 

At most Red Cloud basketball games, nine-year-old third grader Adriano Rama ’23 walks up to the announcer’s table and takes the microphone to sing Tȟawápaha Olówaŋ or the Lakota Flag Song—the official anthem of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Like the national anthem of any country, the Flag Song has become somewhat ubiquitous. Sung in Lakȟóta by tribal members and students during most sporting events and special occasions, it takes on a patriotic tone. Students like Adriano sing it as they face the stars and stripes of the American flag.

Robert Brave Heart, Sr., executive vice president at Red Cloud and a traditional Lakota singer, notes that the lyrics are often colloquially translated as, ‘The President's flag will stand forever, under it the people will live, therefore I do this.’

Adriano has been singing Flag Song at home games for almost two years and it’s something he thoroughly enjoys. Although it is meant to honor the American flag, for Adriano performing it is another way for him to be involved with his culture and to speak and sing in Lakȟóta.

Cultural Roots Inspire an Anthem

While listening to the song’s refrain during a recent basketball game, something struck Red Cloud Lakota Studies teacher Maka Clifford: people may have the lyrics memorized, but the song’s cultural roots are not widely understood.

This semester, during a class unit on traditional Lakota societies, Maka decided to examine the importance of a well-known warrior society, making use of the oral history passed down to him by relatives and elders. Studying these Lakota warriors, Maka explained to his students, could shed light on the origins of the Flag Song. 

“It’s almost a misnomer that we call it a flag song,” said Maka, who is a 2005 graduate of Red Cloud and a 2013 graduate of Columbia University’s master’s program in peace education. “To me, we can view Tȟawápaha Olówaŋ as an honoring song.”

In his sixth period class last week, using the Flag Song for inspiration, Maka began a lesson on a prominent men’s warrior society known as the Sotká Yuhá.

“The Sotká Yuhá was a small warrior group also known as the ‘Lance Owners Society,’ which was made up of men that were particularly brave, strong and loyal, and therefore suited to a defensive role in their community,” Maka explained to his students. “During particularly dangerous raids or battles, the role of the Sotká Yuhá was to stand as a final defense.”

Classes like Maka’s, which are taught from kindergarten through the twelfth grade at Red Cloud Indian School, combine Lakota history, culture and language. The topics and information provided in these classes are aimed at engaging students in their heritage and supporting them in understanding, preserving and continuing their rich cultural traditions and values.

While knowledge of some traditional Native societies remains limited, Maka explained that what we do know of the Sotká Yuhá can be seen as a testament to community and resiliency in Lakota society. Here, he drew a parallel to the Lakota Flag Song.

Native Americans have fought in every major U.S. war, at home and abroad, he explained. It is widely believes Ellis Chips and Ben Black Elk wrote the Lakota Flag Song during the mid 1900’s—with the support of others—to honor Native veterans returning from World War II.

Maka shared with his class that the themes of bravery, loyalty and sacrifice have always been important in Lakota culture. “Indeed, like contemporary veterans, the Sotká Yuhá represented the importance of courage and determination,” explained Maka.

“The Sotká Yuhá warriors would stand in a line at the edge of their village and plant their staff or lance in the ground, forming a human shield so that the women, children and elders would stand a better chance at escape, and therefore survival,” he shared. “They were not allowed to leave or move their staff unless another member of the society removed it for them. Facing the incoming opposition required intense bravery and determination, as the warriors knew that their chance of survival was slim.”

While there are many stories about the origin of Lakota songs, Maka believes that the history of the Sotká Yuhá and the traditional values upheld by all Lakota warriors—both past and present—might have influenced the lyrics of the tribe’s anthem.

Finding Historical Meaning in Modern Lyrics

To examine this connection further, Maka began deconstructing the Lakȟóta lyrics, starting with the first line of the song.

“The lyric Tȟuŋkášilayapi tȟawápaha we often translate as ‘the flag of the United States,’” he explained. “Tȟuŋkášila can be literally translated as ‘grandfather’ and indeed, during the days of early contact with the United States, the president was sometimes referred to as the ‘great father’ or ‘grandfather’ of the country. However, in practice for Lakota people, tȟuŋkášila often carries a deeper meaning similar to ‘God’ or ‘Creator.’”

“Tȟawápaha Olówaŋ” (Lakota Flag Song)

Tȟuŋkášilayapi, tȟawápaha kiŋháŋ
oíhaŋke šni hé nážiŋ kte ló.
Iyóȟlateya oyáte kiŋháŋ
wičhíčhaǧiŋ kta čha,
léčhamuŋ weló

Tȟawápaha, which is often translated as ‘flag’ also can be translated in other ways. Traditionally the early Lakota people did not have or use flags as many know them today. Instead, a more literal translation might be ‘staff’ or ‘lance’—an object that was far more common in Lakota society before contact with European settlers.

He went on to explain that Tȟuŋkášilayapi tȟawápaha can be understood as ‘The Staff of God,’ ‘The Staff of the Creator,’ or very simply, ‘A Sacred Lance or Staff.’ He continued with Oíhaŋke šni which can mean ‘it is indestructible’ or ‘it can’t be destroyed.’

“And, Nážiŋ means to stand,” Maka said. “Literally, therefore we have, ‘The staff of the Creator will stand, indestructibly.’”

Finally, Maka explained that Iyóȟlateya oyáte kiŋháŋ wičhíčhaǧiŋ kta čha, léčhamuŋ weló, can be translated as ‘because of [the staff] the People shall live and flourish.’ The students began to see similarities emerge.

“The Sotká Yuhá provided that selfless act of protection so that their people could live another day,” he said . “Literally so that they could remain safe and flourish.” This more literal translation, Maka explained, may reflect the history that ultimately inspired the song.

“In other words,” he continued. “The Sotká Yuhá, the Lance Owners, will stand with their sacred staffs and face their opponents with bravery, and therefore the village will not be destroyed.”

Building Strength Through Cultural Identity

Through engaging lessons like these, linking contemporary realities with Lakota history, Maka believes that his students are gaining a deeper understanding of their culture. Having that knowledge, he says, will help support a new generation of Lakota leaders who are confident in their identity and prepared to take on life’s challenges.

“As our students learn about their history, I want them to realize that these are just snap-shots in time, and that our history is not static, it’s evolving,” he explains. “The Sotká Yuhá are gone, but not forgotten. And their values live on in today’s warriors and in our students.”

“In this class I want them to get a sense of the responsibility that comes with being a Lakota--and to have an opportunity to interpret what that responsibility looks like in today’s world.”

 

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