DENSMORE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 313 



eties had their origin in a dream, but the organization of these soci- 

 eties and their meetings were more public than those of the regular 

 'dream societies.' " 



In his study among the Oglala Sioux Dr. Wisslcr has divided the 

 societies for men into Aki'cita societies, Headmen's societies, and 

 War societies. ^ Six Aki'cita societies are enumerated by him as exist- 

 hig at the time of his observation, among the Oglala on the Pme Ridge 

 and Rosebud Reservations, in South Dakota, these being theToka'la 

 (Kit Fox), Karigi'yuha (Crow Owners), Car)te'-tir)za (Strong Heart), 

 IKo'ka (Badgers), Sotka'yuha (Bare-lance Owners), and Wi'ciska 

 (Wliite-marked). Only the first four of these societies were found by 

 the writer among the Teton Sioux on the Standing Rock Reservation. 



Another society mentioned by the writer's informants was said to be 

 known by two names, the Silent Eaters (A'inila wo'ta) and Strong 

 Heart at Night (Ahe'pi car)te'tir)za). This was a secret society, 

 entirely distinct from the Strong Heart society, described in this 

 section. No songs and no further information concerning this 

 society were obtained. 



Before proceedmg to a consideration of these societies and their 

 songs it may be well to consider briefly the meaning of the term 

 aki'cita. 



The word aki'cita is commonly translated ''soldier," but its meaning 

 is akin to "guard" or "police," the proper word for "warrior" being 

 iki'cize. Thus the Aki'cita societies were those whose members 

 could be required to act as guards or marshals when the tribe was 

 moving, or as "police" in the village. The. aki'cita were primarily 

 •associated with the buffalo hunt, in which they saw that no one dis- 

 regarded the laws of the chase (see p. 442) ; they also preserved order 

 in the camp and punished all offenders. They were primarily civil 

 officers, though aki'cita might also be appointed to act in connection 

 with a large war party. Hemiepin notes an instance of punishment 

 by aki'cita among the San tee, or eastern Sioux. In 1680 Hennepin 

 and his party were descendmg the Mississippi River and were "in the 

 Islands of the River," not far below the Falls of St. Anthony (probably 

 near the site of St. Paul, Minn.). The Indians set food before them, 

 but while they were eating, there came other Indians, who took the 

 food from them and plundered the tipi. Hennepin says: 



We knew not what these Savages were at first; but it appear'd they were some of 

 those that we had left above at the Fall of St. Anthony. One of them, who call'd him- 

 self my Uncle, told me, that those who had given us Victuals, had done basely to 

 go and forestall the others in the Chase; and that according to the Laws and Customs 

 of their Country, 'twas lawful for them to plunder them, since they had been 



iWlssler, Clark, Societies and Ceremonial Associations in the Oglala Division of the Teton-Dakota, 

 Anthr. Papers, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., xi, pt. 1, p. 5, New York, 1912. 



