Native American Rituals and Customs

The Sioux Indians who lived on the Plains had many rituals and customs, which they followed strictly. This sheet will explain some of their most important customs.

The Sioux Council

The Sioux Indians did not have written laws. They had a Council instead. The Sioux Indians would select from among the tribe people who were quiet and honest to be councilmen or leaders. These councilmen would sit on the Council and discuss things that were important to the Sioux tribe. This could be anything from murder to war with another tribe. These leaders would often dress in ceremonial clothes when making decisions.

Polygamy

Polygamy means having more than one wife. Polygamy was normal for Sioux Indians. In a Sioux tribe there were more women than men. One Indian hunter could kill enough buffalo to feed a number of women and children so he would take more wives and provide for them. In return the women prepared the buffalo skins. The more wives that a man had then the more skins he could prepare and the skins could be traded for valuable things like guns.

Exposure

The Sioux Indians had to travel to find food. When a person was too old to keep up with the tribe, she or he was left behind to die. This custom was known as exposure and was considered perfectly normal by the Sioux Indians.

Family Life

No other race of people had a deeper love of family than the Sioux Indians. They were very fond of their children, whom they spoilt, and never punished, except in extreme cases, when they would throw a bucket of cold water over them. Many white people slap their children, snatch them by the ears, or beat them with straps and sticks, but not the Sioux Indians. When boys needed discipline they were denied the right to play war games and go hunting. Girls were denied the privileges of playing with their dolls, or helping their mothers.

Facts PDF Worksheet:

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