Tribe: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota
6-506. Elders.
The first consideration in traditional kinship is age. We often hear “respect your elders.” Elders hold a special place and status in traditional Lakota society. They are revered for their knowledge and wisdom, which they have acquired through lifelong experiences and learning. They are looked upon as the foundation of tiospaye life because they provide the guidance and direction needed by the people to endure from generation to generation.
Children are taught at an early age to respect their elders. They are also taught to know and to help their relatives. Those teachings have a practical application of precluding inter-marriages, but are mainly in keeping with the natural laws of respect and generosity. Elders are teachers and counselors in traditional Lakota life. Children are often sent to them for Wowahokunkiye lecturing or teaching. This is done particularly when children misbehave or need help. Elders are also called upon to help keep peace and harmony within the tiospaye.
In interactions among tiospaye members, preference is always given to elders. For example, in asking for assistance from a tiwahe or tiospaye, we ordinarily work through the eldest members. We may ask the younger people, but, in most cases, they would need to confer with the elders anyway before our request is either granted or denied. Furthermore, in gathering such as meetings, preference is always given to the eldest individuals present.
Elders are called upon for the wocekiya- prayer and woksape-words of wisdom, which always come first in a meeting. Elders always speak first, eat before others, and are made to feel comfortable until the gathering in concluded. If younger people are going to precede elders in any way, such as speaking, it must be done with the permission or acknowledgement of the elders. In traditional Lakota society, we always give preference to individuals who are older than we are regardless of our relationship to them.
Read Full Text of Title VI Children's Code §6-506