AĆpĂ©tu WĂ
âIn Dakota/Language stories, Wi refers to the Sun & Moon: AĆpĂ©tu WĂ (Morning Light), the solar version, is one of the more powerful spirits to the Oceti Sakowin. His wife is HaĆwĂ (evening light), the moon spirit. He is considered the leader of the spirits and he is represented by the color red.
Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.
Perhaps you have noticed that even in the slightest breeze you can hear the voice of the cottonwood tree; this we understand is its prayer to the Great Spirit, for not only men, but all things and all beings pray to Him continually in different ways.
~Black Elk
WåǧaÄhaĆ
This piece incorporates symbols associated with AĆpĂ©tu WĂ . The WåǧaÄhaĆ, cottonwood tree, is very sacred to the Oceti Sakowin: it is said that adults saw children building little houses from the WåǧaÄhaĆ’s leaves and so that is how they learned to make tipis. WåǧaÄhaĆ is also used at the center of the Sundance ceremony and is seen as the “Tree of Life” because of the star found hidden in the bark~
WahÄĂĄzi
WaÈÄĂĄzi, or the sunflower, was formerly worn upon the chests as a medallion during the Sundance, instead of the four colors or the symbols as seen today. They are respected for their continuous prayers, as they follow Anpetu Wi’s journey across the sky. Anywhere a WaÈÄĂĄzi grows is considered sacred ground.
Now on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
