Ella Cara Deloria

Contributed to

  • Goose and her children, a game (1887)
    In summer boys would play a game where one was a hunter and all others were geese. The geese could swim and dive and go ashore while the hunter tried to catch them. When boys were caught they were asked how many children they had and then were dunked.

  • Playing with small things, a game (1887)
    "Little play" is a game of make-believe where girls create toys such as tipis, cribs, and more. It is a game of being grown up, having children, and being married. They learn from their mothers and Elders and develop life skills through their playing.

  • Throwing chewed leaves in the eyes, a game (1887)
    Boys would chew up leaves, plants, and deer sinew until it was wet and sticky. Then they would chase each other, often playing on teams, and try to get the paste in their opponents' eyes.

  • About the wíŋkte (1887)
    Wíŋkte are considered very witty, shameless, and unafraid. They had a tradition of nicknaming people in ways that were funny, inappropriate, and/or mocking. Includes stories of a famous wíŋkte by the name of Wičhíte-Waštéla.

  • The heyókȟa who dreamed of his death (1887)
    The heyókȟa are respected and revered. This is a tale of a one who knew how he would die, and painted himself and his horse in the manner of the lightning strikes that would kill them. Bushotter once experienced someone being struck by lightning too.