Long ago, the Lakota culture made it possible for women warrior societies to exist. Lakota society was difficult for early anthropologists to classify. In many ways, we are what they call “matrilineal”; and yet, in other ways we are “patrilineal”. Then again the situation differs from Tiospaye to Tiospaye. A Tiospaye is a Lakota extended family unit. The idea was that we did what worked best for the Tiospaye; hence, even though many Tiospayes have many things in common, they also have distinguishable differences between them. So the early anthropologists just labeled us as “Unilineal”, for the lack of a better label.

Also, many times a woman would assume her husband’s or male relative’s place in the warrior society he was a member of, if he was killed in battle. When a woman is menstruating, she is thought of as being in cleansing (it is not perceived as evil, less than or anything negative–rather, it is about regeneration) somewhat as mentioned in the Lakota Star Knowledge story called the Mother Earth Cleansing. In this story Mother Earth cleanses herself of the addictive/dualistic society in the Lakota Star Knowledge story. And in this spirit so does a woman menstruate.

Hence, during an attack from an enemy, whenever the enemy saw a Lakota Woman Warrior coming towards him, he would flee for his very life. The attacker assumes the role of the dualistic society and a menstruating woman’s cleansing power will render the attacker, his weapons, his horse, and anything belonging to him, as useless should she touch him or any of his belongings because her cleansing also destroys all duality. It is also known among ourselves that several women warrior societies existed long time ago.

Hence, in a Lakota society, the women were highly respected by their men, and greatly feared by their enemy. Also, in a traditional Lakota relationship, each partner is a compliment to each other. Each gives 100% of themselves to the relationship, while maintaining their own 7th Directions. Their relationship only enhances the inner peace each already has.

Duality cannot survive in a traditional Lakota society because duality is based on the illusions of fear and control, and the Lakota ways are built on contentment. Hence, Love Addiction, or any other addiction, cannot exist in a traditional Lakota society. As a result, we have no words for english phrases such as “I cannot live without you”, among other popular love addiction statements. Domestic violence also cannot survive within a traditional Lakota society because should one abuse his/her partner in any manner, s/he becomes the dualistic society, and dualism cannot survive in a Lakota Reality.

[Copyrighted 1997 by David Little Elk.]