Xeyata
Up on the Mountain
by
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This boy was destined to learn the songs and rituals for the Turn of the Century Ceremony. The child’s name, Kiktopawingxa, was a great grandfather’s name, on the mothers’ side. The events of the story will take place, nothing about the story can be changed, and it must be told from generation to generation. The song in her story must not be changed. Later in her life, her Ina or mother told her the same story, adding the song which her até or father sang when ina finished the story. It was a beautiful song! At dawn, an initiation ceremony will take place. The oldest man in camp will have the honor of singing an initiation song to introduce a new soul to the universe, a Kiktopawingxe.
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About the Book
Kikto was born to perform the Turn of the Century Ceremony of the Lakxota people. His family carried the story, the songs and the wintercount and other items that will be needed for this ceremony. But first he has to grow up and experience life. His life is eventful in the days while he is growing up, he meets people, hears stories and learns the way of life that people live in his time.
About the Author
Violet Catches, Oglala/ Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, learned to speak Lakxota as her first language. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies/Bilingual Education from NAES College in Chicago and a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently lives in Pierre, South Dakota.