This odyssey traverses the wide open prairie, shining mountains, rolling plains and mighty rivers of the Lakota Nation, the landscape of the dreamers and the dreams. We follow the history of the Lakota people through great leaders such as Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, and Crazy Horse, and attempt to appreciate the historic and contemporary realities of the Tetonwan Oyate.
We begin by entering He Sapa Wakan – The Heart of Everything That Is – the sacred Black Hills, Holy Land of the Lakota people. In the Black Hills we seek out Tatanka, the buffalo, and in sight of one of the last free herds of buffalo we will explore the spiritual and physical significance of the buffalo to the Lakota people.
At Wind Cave we will learn of Lakota genesis. At the Place of the Thunders, Hinhan Kaja Paha, we ascend the highest point in the Black Hills upon which Black Elk experienced much of what embodied the story of his life as told in Black Elk Speaks. STAY: Hill City.
Amidst the incredible landscape of Mako Sica, the Badlands, we hear the perspectives of Lakota ambassadors whose ancestors gave all to protect Lakota culture: from the arrival of the Europeans, to ‘Red Cloud’s War’ of 1866 and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, to the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Driving through the Badlands to Pine Ridge we reach the land of Red Cloud, the Oglala Lakota Nation, and take the Chief Red Cloud trail on the way to Wounded Knee.
At the Bear's Lodge (Devils Tower) we hear ancient tribal explanations of the sacred rock’s creation, before standing before the sacred mountain, Inyan Kara.
We enter the Powder River country and examine ‘Red Cloud’s War’ – we follow that epic struggle over the Bozeman Trail and visit the Fetterman Battle site.
Discussing Red Cloud’s War, we remain with the Bozeman Trail and travel to the site of the Wagon Box – following the trail of heartbreak and glory.
The Crow and their cousins the Hidatsa gave Yellowstone its name, and we find that Yellowstone is Indian Country as we travel towards the region to explore its Native history.
In Yellowstone, we are in the heart of buffalo and wolf country as we seek the both, and listen for the wolf to call in the dawn. We learn of the ways of the four-leggeds both spiritually and scientifically.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Departing from Billings, Montana, most tour members should remember they will cross the International dateline, and our dates inclusively reflect this.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Montana
South Dakota
Wyoming
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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