Dallas Goldtooth Instagram – The Dakota name for this time of year, Mdokeċokaya Wí – Midsummer Moon, is fairly self-explanatory. However, there is a common misconception that Dakota people traditionally lived in tipis year-round. During the warmer months, many Dakota people lived in bark lodges along the river. The interior of the lodge was often cooler than outside, and the lodges contained benches, storage space, and racks for drying meat.
In June of 2022, Prairie Island Indian Community members constructed the first Dakota bark lodge in Minnesota in 150 years. The last record of a bark lodge being built in Minnesota was prior to the U.S.-Dakota War and the exile of Dakota people. The bark lodge built in 2022, which is pictured in the graphic above, is slightly smaller than traditional Dakota bark lodges once were. This permanent bark lodge at Prairie Island (as well as one recently built in Lower Sioux Indian Community) is a big step forward in cultural revitalization and healing for Dakota people.
*Please keep in mind that the Dakota language has many dialects, and communities have different ways of saying/pronouncing words and phrases. These translations are just one variation of the rich language of the Oċeti Ṡakowiŋ. Text: @wakantipi | Posted on 05/Jul/2023 01:24:00
