Seven Sacred Rites
The first Sacred Rite is Inipi, the rite of purification. A sweat lodge is built for the rite. During the rite, water is poured on heated rocks to make steam, and prayers are offered and the sacred pipe is smoked. The Lakota see the rite of Inipi as a way to purify the body, and in the past this rite would be performed before any major undertaking.
The second Sacred Rite is Haŋblečeya. In Lakota Haŋblečeya literally means, "crying for a vision." This is the rite of the vision quest. Just as in all Lakota rites, the rite begins with the sacred pipe. The person undertaking the spirit quest begins by taking the pipe to a holy man and asking him to guide and pray for him, and the two smoke the pipe. After this, the person undertaking the vision quest goes to an isolated place without food or water. There, they pray to be shown a vision and to communicate with the spirits for guidance and knowledge. The vision quest can last up to four days, and afterwards the vision is discussed with a holy man. Both men and women go on vision quests, and the rite is still practiced by the Lakota.
The third Sacred Rite of the Lakota is Wanagi Wicagluha. Wanagi Wicagluha means "keeping of the spirit," and is performed by a mourner for the loss of a loved one. The Lakota believe that after the death of a loved one their spirit can remain near their family and community. A small place is set up for the spirit, and they are fed everyday by the mourner. After a full year of mourning, the spirit is released and the mourning period ends. The Lakota believe that this rite helps to purify the souls of those who have died.
The fourth Sacred Rite is Wiwanke Wachipi, the Sun Dance. The Sun Dance is the most important of the Seven Sacred Rites not only to the Lakota, but to many other Plains tribes as well.
The fifth Sacred Rite is Hunkapi, which means making relatives. The rite is a way in which the Lakota solidify relationships and formally adopt people as relatives. The rite also serves to mirror the relationship between the individual and Wakan Tanka.
The sixth Sacred right is Isnati Awicalowanpi, a rite for young women. The rite is performed with the family of the girl building a tipi. A holy man blesses the ceremonial objects and prayers are made to Wakan Tanka. The rite is performed to help endure the young woman will grow up to have all the virtues of a Lakota woman and to understand her new role in life. The rite also serves to have the young woman be formally eligible to be married.
The last of the Seven Sacred Rites is the rite of Tapa Wankaye Yapi. This rite means "throwing the ball," and is meant to symbolize the course of a man's life. A young girl stands in the middle of a circle, with the four directions marked. She throws the ball in each of the directions, which is caught and brought back to her. The girl then throws the ball in the air and whoever catches it is considered more lucky than the others. The rite is meant to show that Wakan Tanka is everywhere.
The traditional Lakota religion has has been remarkably resilient over the years. Throughout decades of forced assimilation, Christianization, and having their religious practices banned, the Lakota and their traditional religion are still practiced to this day. Ceremonies such as the Ghost Dance and Sun Dance, were banned by the U.S Government until the 1970's. This did not stop the Lakota from practicing their religion however, and these ceremonies continued to be practiced in secret. Today, all Lakota practices are now legal. All Seven Sacred Rites are still practiced by the Lakota today, with Tapa Wankaye Yapi being the only exception. Even some of the Lakota have converted to Christianity, the Lakota religion has managed to stand the test of time.