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The Seven Sacred Rites of the Oglala Lakota
All ceremonies whose objectives are to influence the supernatural beings
and powers are called wakan wicoĥan (from wakan, 'sacred', and wicoĥan, 'acts, deeds,
way'). The seven rites are those given to the people by the White Buffalo Calf Woman (Pteincala San
Win), but they do not represent the total repertory of Oglala ceremonies, Rather, they should be regarded
as the central religious theme of Oglala ceremonialism. There are variations to this theme, just as there
are varieties of religious practitioners whose specializations differ on the basis of revelationary instructions.
The first two rituals are presented in a logical order, the sweat lodge followed by the
vision quest. Although each of them is a separate and distinctive ritual in itself, they both serve as
rituals preliminary to the remaining five, as well as to rituals related to hunting, warfare, and life crises.
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