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.