Tribal Identity of Original Societies

[CIVILISON]

Peace

Under Dr. Darkwah's "The Africans Who Wrote the Bible" scholarly influence and with absolutely no racial or any other bias I've been reading up on the tribal identities of ancient societies especially the North Africans. I do not want to limit the whole discussion to Africans only I will try to later add on with some other locations. But this one now is the center of my attention. North Africa is a focal point in Man's evolution on this planet.

Before I state my main point I want to say that I am of the understanding that original Man originated in Africa therefore original civilization too and in the grand scheme of things Africa was a place of all of ours' ancestors origins. As tribes formed and people started traveling north alongside the rich soil of Nile they through their natural mental evolution formed societies, civilizations and all arts and sciences. Naturally they studied the skies for hundreds and thousands of years.

Now this is what interests me, as time went on the descendants of these tribes must still exist somewhere in Africa - and they do! First of all it's interesting to find out the tribal names of ancient people and understand how civilizations were conglomerates of these tribes and these then came to symbolize whole nations and through the Greek conversion of words and European manipulation of history and sciences these original names were unfortunately lost or hidden away or just not paid any attention to.

Dr. Darkwah claims the ancient Egyptians were the people of the Akan tribe and language. These tribes are still existent today in Ghana where the Asante people are also said to be of Akan origin. Thru the study of linguistics and culture Darkwah identified the ancient Egyptians as Akan people corroborating this by pointing out that a lot of ancient names were Akan names and a lot of other words utilized by ancient Egypt were from the Akan language. For instance he gives an example of the word ANKH which he claims originates from the Akan word NKWA which means life. Moreover, the boy king known as Tutankhamun was actually Tutu Ankoma. The pharaoh Khuffu was Akuffu and his son Djedefra was Dade Afre and the ancient Egyptian city Memphis is really Mamfe - these original names are all Akan words. This is striking evidence right here. It's important to realize the study of origin of words and their people and culture can lead us to the source.

Add on with any pertinent info in regards to the Akan people or anything else relating to the tribal identity of ancient Kamit. Also, feel free to discuss any other ancient tribes!

PEACE

[WARPATH]

I have a different understanding of history. And before I begin, let me state that I don't think my version is any more Valid than another persons perspective.

I think a big mistake people make on these boards is assertion that their perspective is better, or correct over another persons. My goal on these boards have never been to dismiss facts or any other agenda to get people to think like me. That is the wrong battle I don't want to be a part of.

Instead let me share a piece I wrote so that we can have a better understanding of each other:

Abstract
This paper will serve as a summary for the entire Lakota culture course. I will generalize much of what’ve I learned and how I have come understand it. I will present what I learned from the words of my instructor, the course’s text, my own research about history, and the things I have been told by my elders. I will mostly present my own point of view on the knowledge I have obtained through out my lifetime.


Lakota Culture
It is difficult to write about culture and its history, when so much of the culture has been lost to time and change. The best way to talk about Lakota culture is to recognize the truths about the culture, and the knowledge that our ancestors passed along to us.

One of the most important aspects of Lakota culture is the oral tradition. Through this tradition, the knowledge of the creator has been passed on even into today’s generation. The elders told our history orally. The wintertime was an especially good time for the stories to be told. The stories were told over and over again every year so that they would not be forgotten. Our history was also written on winter counts, which was a pictorial account of the year. However a lot of the winter counts were destroyed by the advancing efforts of white settlers.

When Lakota people first came on to the earth, they came by the way of the Black Hills. This truth should be undisputed, because it is this truth that our entire identity comes from. It is the main difference between our culture and other cultures. The origins of many other cultures have been lost.
The story of how we came on this earth says that the first people that arrived on earth were tricked by Inktomi. This trickery was a punishment for not listening to the creator; these first people were turned into the buffalo. They were told that they would serve as food and shelter for human beings. When the earth was ready for humans, the Lakota emerged from the Black Hills. At that time they were told by the creator to hunt the Buffalo.
If this part of our history is true than it is proof that Lakota people and their ancestors always hunted the buffalo. Current history traces Lakota people to have lived in the woodlands of Minnesota as of the year 1650. It’s said that the Lakota were woodland people that became expert buffalo hunters in as little as fifty years. (Hassrick, p. 64) If the Lakota people were originally woodland people, then why were they referred to as the prairie dwellers?

It is my personal belief that history has been distorted by white settlers because of cultural misunderstandings. It is an effort to destroy the pride of a strong society, and make Lakota people live like whites. If the buffalo were always migrating, then it is possible that the Lakota people were always moving across the country, constantly entering new territory and making allies as well as enemies.

The buffalo were significant for our culture, because it provided the people with everything they needed. Food, shelter, and tools could be made from the animal’s giant body. The tipis that people lived in were made from many buffalo hides sewn together. In the winter, some people moved into wigwams made of bark to prevent their tipis from rotting.
Hunting buffalo was a community affair. Before Lakota people had horses, running buffalo over a cliff was one of the ways that buffalo were killed. To accomplish this people would surround the buffalo, while someone disguised as a buffalo would lead them to a cliff. The buffalo were chased over the edge and the fall would kill them. This method would was a great way to obtain lot’s of meat at once (Hassrick, p.200-201).

The diet of Lakota people consisted mostly of meat. Lakota people were hunter and gathers. They never farmed for food. The fruits and vegetables in their diet were found already grown or received from trading with other tribes. Lakota people used dogs dragging a travois to help carry back berries and other fruits and vegetables they uncovered.

The dog was an important animal that helped the daily lives of the Lakota people. Before the horse, the dog had the burden of dragging the travois’s that Lakota people used to move from place to place. Dogs were trained to be good watchdogs, and bark at strange things. Puppies were used in ceremonies, and eaten as a delicacy.

When Lakota people started to gain horses, they became a powerful force on the prairie. With horses, Lakota people could cover more territory, and control more territory. Horses became a type of currency. Whenever someone needed services from another tribal member, the asking price was usually a horse. Giving away horses was a great way of honoring loved ones.

Horse stealing was one way to obtain wealth. Lakota people would sneak into enemy camps, and steal the best horses. First they would observe the horses and then try to steal the strongest and fastest horses. These horses were usually signified by special paint markings or a feather tied in the horses’ hair. Also, young men would sneak off at night and form war parties to steal horses. They did this because they wanted to prove themselves as warriors. Of course parents would worry about their children, but at the same time they were also proud of their young warriors.

When a Lakota man wanted to marry, he would usually have to pay a dowry. In order to obtain a very prestigious woman, the dowry might be as much as one hundred horses. If a man wanted prove his worth, he might enlist the help of friends and family to obtain the horses for the dowry.
Women were well respected in Lakota culture. History has depicted natives as savages because some men had plural marriages. However, the truth is, men had many wives because there were women that needed to be taken care of. The way Lakota society was structured demanded that everyone should be taken care of. Men depended on women, and women depended on men for survival.

Unfortunately, war is a very real part of life, and the Lakota people were warriors. Living on the prairie was very hard and there were always other tribes trying to gain wealth and territory to survive, just like the Lakota were trying to survive. History has painted Native Americans to be bloodthirsty savages that had no compassion for taking another man’s life. I know this is not true because Lakota men would paint their face before going into battle. This was an effort to hide their identity from the creator, because they knew taking another man’s life is wrong.

Lakota people had many different warrior societies within the tribe. The societies acted as the military and police for the people. It was an honor to be invited into one of these societies. It could also mean death because of what was expected of you once you joined a society. For example, someone might be staked to the ground, and be expected to stay in one place while engaged in battle unless someone cut him free.

Warriors received prestige from their war record. A warrior obtained an impressive war record by counting coup. A coup was obtained by getting close to a hostile enemy and touching them without killing them. The warrior would use a coup stick, or some other battle paraphernalia. The coup had to be witnessed by someone, so that the claim could be verified.

The entire way of life for Lakota people was in balance with nature. Lakota people were not wasteful. They never took more than what nature could restore. Even the structure of the people was in balance. If some one was in need, there was always some one willing to give. In Lakota culture, generosity was an admirable trait. Hoarding more property then needed was looked down upon.

Lakota religion and spirituality was also an important factor that kept the peoples minds and bodies strong. Their sacred ceremonies helped keep them in balance. Sweat lodges were used to cleanse and purify the body and soul. The sweat lodge was created by forming long wooden poles into a dome. Buffalo hides were used to make an airtight seal, covering the dome. There was an alter made a few feet from the door, which usually consisted of a buffalo skull mounted on a small mound. Also rocks would be heated in a fire pit in front of the lodge until they were glowing. When the rocks were ready, they were placed inside of the lodge, where a hole was dug in the middle.

Once the rocks were inside, the door would be shut and the people inside would pray and sing. Water was poured onto the rocks, which created steam that would cleanse the people inside. The steam that came off of the rocks is believed to be the breath of the creator. The rocks are the oldest things on earth, and when they are heated, they come back to life.

Lakota people also use the sacred pipe for prayer. It was the White Buffalo Calf Woman who brought the pipe to the Lakota people. The story begins when two warriors were out scouting and saw a woman in the distance. When they approached the woman, one of the warriors decided he wanted to capture her. Because he disrespected this sacred woman he was mysteriously reduced to bones. The mysterious woman told the other warrior to return to his camp and tell the people to prepare for her arrival.
When the White Buffalo Calf Woman came to the people, she taught them sacred ceremonies and gave them the White Buffalo Calf pipe to pray with. The people were told to make replicas of the pipe, which is what they used for prayer and ceremonies.

The vision quest is also an important religious ceremony. The vision quest was used as rite of passage for young men. Some one that undertook the vision quest would have to pray on hill for as long as four days and nights, without food or water. The individual would have to maintain a state of mental awareness while praying, and try their best not do doze off. It was important, because during this time they might receive a vision that would bring insight to themselves and their people.

The Sundance was one of the most important religious ceremonies for the Lakota people. During Sundance time, the people would come together in a large camp. Many things would have to be prepared in order to hold a Sundance. A cotton wood tree was prepared and placed in the middle of the circle where the dance would be held. The Sun dancers would pierce their bodies and drag skulls as a form of self-sacrifice. These sacrifices were made as a way to honor the creator, and bring balance to the people.
One of the most important aspects of Lakota culture is the language. However when white settlers came and placed Indian children into boarding schools, the children had been banned from speaking their own language. The language is important because it presents another way of thinking and understanding. I believe that if we recover our Lakota language, it will act as the glue that holds us together as a nation.

Today there are many disagreements about Lakota culture and religion. For instance, the introduction of Christianity and other world religions has caused many people to receive aspects of Lakota culture as taboo. Alcoholism and the distortion of history has left our nation in disarray. By researching who we our and attempting to regain the knowledge of ourselves, we will recover an identity that can lead us to become leaders for our future generations. Our future depends on the knowledge of our culture and our past.

Reference
Hassrick, R.B. (1964) The Sioux: life and customs of a warrior
society. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

[CIVILISON]

Peace! Thanks for a really nice post! I enjoyed the read and will delve deeper with time.

I have a different understanding of history. And before I begin, let me state that I don't think my version is any more Valid than another persons perspective.

True, and everybody does.

I was inspired to create this thread when I was studying the cultural and linguistic customs of the Akan people therefore the emphasis on Africa. I do have a universal understanding of history as well wherein all societies and nations play a part in the grand scheme.

I think a big mistake people make on these boards is assertion that their perspective is better, or correct over another persons. My goal on these boards have never been to dismiss facts or any other agenda to get people to think like me. That is the wrong battle I don't want to be a part of.

Very true brother and that is not the environment we want here. I think a lot of people here are beyond that point and we know better not go there. Ignorance will not be accepted on this forum

Lakota Culture
It is difficult to write about culture and its history, when so much of the culture has been lost to time and change. The best way to talk about Lakota culture is to recognize the truths about the culture, and the knowledge that our ancestors passed along to us.

One of the most important aspects of Lakota culture is the oral tradition. Through this tradition, the knowledge of the creator has been passed on even into today’s generation. The elders told our history orally. The wintertime was an especially good time for the stories to be told. The stories were told over and over again every year so that they would not be forgotten. Our history was also written on winter counts, which was a pictorial account of the year. However a lot of the winter counts were destroyed by the advancing efforts of white settlers.

When Lakota people first came on to the earth, they came by the way of the Black Hills. This truth should be undisputed, because it is this truth that our entire identity comes from. It is the main difference between our culture and other cultures. The origins of many other cultures have been lost.
The story of how we came on this earth says that the first people that arrived on earth were tricked by Inktomi. This trickery was a punishment for not listening to the creator; these first people were turned into the buffalo. They were told that they would serve as food and shelter for human beings. When the earth was ready for humans, the Lakota emerged from the Black Hills. At that time they were told by the creator to hunt the Buffalo.
If this part of our history is true than it is proof that Lakota people and their ancestors always hunted the buffalo. Current history traces Lakota people to have lived in the woodlands of Minnesota as of the year 1650. It’s said that the Lakota were woodland people that became expert buffalo hunters in as little as fifty years. (Hassrick, p. 64) If the Lakota people were originally woodland people, then why were they referred to as the prairie dwellers?

It is my personal belief that history has been distorted by white settlers because of cultural misunderstandings. It is an effort to destroy the pride of a strong society, and make Lakota people live like whites. If the buffalo were always migrating, then it is possible that the Lakota people were always moving across the country, constantly entering new territory and making allies as well as enemies.

The buffalo were significant for our culture, because it provided the people with everything they needed. Food, shelter, and tools could be made from the animal’s giant body. The tipis that people lived in were made from many buffalo hides sewn together. In the winter, some people moved into wigwams made of bark to prevent their tipis from rotting.
Hunting buffalo was a community affair. Before Lakota people had horses, running buffalo over a cliff was one of the ways that buffalo were killed. To accomplish this people would surround the buffalo, while someone disguised as a buffalo would lead them to a cliff. The buffalo were chased over the edge and the fall would kill them. This method would was a great way to obtain lot’s of meat at once (Hassrick, p.200-201).

The diet of Lakota people consisted mostly of meat. Lakota people were hunter and gathers. They never farmed for food. The fruits and vegetables in their diet were found already grown or received from trading with other tribes. Lakota people used dogs dragging a travois to help carry back berries and other fruits and vegetables they uncovered.

The dog was an important animal that helped the daily lives of the Lakota people. Before the horse, the dog had the burden of dragging the travois’s that Lakota people used to move from place to place. Dogs were trained to be good watchdogs, and bark at strange things. Puppies were used in ceremonies, and eaten as a delicacy.

When Lakota people started to gain horses, they became a powerful force on the prairie. With horses, Lakota people could cover more territory, and control more territory. Horses became a type of currency. Whenever someone needed services from another tribal member, the asking price was usually a horse. Giving away horses was a great way of honoring loved ones.

Horse stealing was one way to obtain wealth. Lakota people would sneak into enemy camps, and steal the best horses. First they would observe the horses and then try to steal the strongest and fastest horses. These horses were usually signified by special paint markings or a feather tied in the horses’ hair. Also, young men would sneak off at night and form war parties to steal horses. They did this because they wanted to prove themselves as warriors. Of course parents would worry about their children, but at the same time they were also proud of their young warriors.

When a Lakota man wanted to marry, he would usually have to pay a dowry. In order to obtain a very prestigious woman, the dowry might be as much as one hundred horses. If a man wanted prove his worth, he might enlist the help of friends and family to obtain the horses for the dowry.
Women were well respected in Lakota culture. History has depicted natives as savages because some men had plural marriages. However, the truth is, men had many wives because there were women that needed to be taken care of. The way Lakota society was structured demanded that everyone should be taken care of. Men depended on women, and women depended on men for survival.

Unfortunately, war is a very real part of life, and the Lakota people were warriors. Living on the prairie was very hard and there were always other tribes trying to gain wealth and territory to survive, just like the Lakota were trying to survive. History has painted Native Americans to be bloodthirsty savages that had no compassion for taking another man’s life. I know this is not true because Lakota men would paint their face before going into battle. This was an effort to hide their identity from the creator, because they knew taking another man’s life is wrong.

Lakota people had many different warrior societies within the tribe. The societies acted as the military and police for the people. It was an honor to be invited into one of these societies. It could also mean death because of what was expected of you once you joined a society. For example, someone might be staked to the ground, and be expected to stay in one place while engaged in battle unless someone cut him free.

Warriors received prestige from their war record. A warrior obtained an impressive war record by counting coup. A coup was obtained by getting close to a hostile enemy and touching them without killing them. The warrior would use a coup stick, or some other battle paraphernalia. The coup had to be witnessed by someone, so that the claim could be verified.

The entire way of life for Lakota people was in balance with nature. Lakota people were not wasteful. They never took more than what nature could restore. Even the structure of the people was in balance. If some one was in need, there was always some one willing to give. In Lakota culture, generosity was an admirable trait. Hoarding more property then needed was looked down upon.

Lakota religion and spirituality was also an important factor that kept the peoples minds and bodies strong. Their sacred ceremonies helped keep them in balance. Sweat lodges were used to cleanse and purify the body and soul. The sweat lodge was created by forming long wooden poles into a dome. Buffalo hides were used to make an airtight seal, covering the dome. There was an alter made a few feet from the door, which usually consisted of a buffalo skull mounted on a small mound. Also rocks would be heated in a fire pit in front of the lodge until they were glowing. When the rocks were ready, they were placed inside of the lodge, where a hole was dug in the middle.

Once the rocks were inside, the door would be shut and the people inside would pray and sing. Water was poured onto the rocks, which created steam that would cleanse the people inside. The steam that came off of the rocks is believed to be the breath of the creator. The rocks are the oldest things on earth, and when they are heated, they come back to life.

Lakota people also use the sacred pipe for prayer. It was the White Buffalo Calf Woman who brought the pipe to the Lakota people. The story begins when two warriors were out scouting and saw a woman in the distance. When they approached the woman, one of the warriors decided he wanted to capture her. Because he disrespected this sacred woman he was mysteriously reduced to bones. The mysterious woman told the other warrior to return to his camp and tell the people to prepare for her arrival.
When the White Buffalo Calf Woman came to the people, she taught them sacred ceremonies and gave them the White Buffalo Calf pipe to pray with. The people were told to make replicas of the pipe, which is what they used for prayer and ceremonies.

The vision quest is also an important religious ceremony. The vision quest was used as rite of passage for young men. Some one that undertook the vision quest would have to pray on hill for as long as four days and nights, without food or water. The individual would have to maintain a state of mental awareness while praying, and try their best not do doze off. It was important, because during this time they might receive a vision that would bring insight to themselves and their people.

The Sundance was one of the most important religious ceremonies for the Lakota people. During Sundance time, the people would come together in a large camp. Many things would have to be prepared in order to hold a Sundance. A cotton wood tree was prepared and placed in the middle of the circle where the dance would be held. The Sun dancers would pierce their bodies and drag skulls as a form of self-sacrifice. These sacrifices were made as a way to honor the creator, and bring balance to the people.
One of the most important aspects of Lakota culture is the language. However when white settlers came and placed Indian children into boarding schools, the children had been banned from speaking their own language. The language is important because it presents another way of thinking and understanding. I believe that if we recover our Lakota language, it will act as the glue that holds us together as a nation.

Today there are many disagreements about Lakota culture and religion. For instance, the introduction of Christianity and other world religions has caused many people to receive aspects of Lakota culture as taboo. Alcoholism and the distortion of history has left our nation in disarray. By researching who we our and attempting to regain the knowledge of ourselves, we will recover an identity that can lead us to become leaders for our future generations. Our future depends on the knowledge of our culture and our past.

Reference
Hassrick, R.B. (1964) The Sioux: life and customs of a warrior
society. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

Thank you for this write out! I find this info much interesting, I think the Lakota have a beautiful and powerful culture.

PEACE Warpath