Native Inc. set to host evening of Lakota storytelling, winter solstice teachings
Historian Dakota Wind Goodhouse explains cultural significance of holiday in Great Plains
Indigenous Democracy Reporter
Dakota Wind Goodhouse, a historian and citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, will be sharing his knowledge on the cultural significance of the winter solstice in the Great Plains at Native Inc. on Dec. 16. When he’s not instructing classes, he often presents his research, such as on the Sept. 30 Orange Shirt Day event at UTTC. (Photo credit Adrianna Adame)
As the longest night of the year approaches, Dakota Wind Goodhouse invites you to join him in exploring the cultural significance of the winter solstice through Lakota eyes.
The nonprofit Indigenous-led community organization Native Inc. will feature him at its winter solstice event on Monday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Goodhouse is a historian and citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He plans to share his expertise on Lakota heritage, through storytelling and a presentation about the holiday on the Northern Plains. This year the date of the official winter solstice is Dec. 21.
Goodhouse plans to recount the myth of Fallen Star, a hero who guided his people along the Spirit Road.
“When you see this constellation at night, this figure points to the North Star,” he said. “In the narrative, that’s his father, and so he’s reaching towards his father while at the same time sending rays of light and hope to his people below.”
Goodhouse explained the contemporary significance of the Fallen Star story for survivors of generational trauma and suicide.
“The Fallen Star narrative is important because it includes the relatives who have passed on because of a huge emotional burden, so they may take their own lives,” he said. “And in Christianity, those who take their own lives, there’s a place called Hell for them, and those who embrace this Fallen Star narrative –– there’s redemption even after.”
Goodhouse, an educator with 11 years of experience, is currently a professor at United Tribes Technical College. Outside of teaching and conducting research, he regularly presents to the community. In November, he participated in a series of talks for Native American Heritage Month at Native Inc., where he discussed topics such as the solar eclipse, Oceti Sakowin geography, moon counting and the winter count tradition.
Even if people can’t attend the presentation, Goodhouse emphasized, they can find other ways to participate in the holiday. He shared that an elder once advised him to create a medicine wheel, which he then built in his own backyard.
“I went out and measured and paced out an area to put down a stone circle, and then within the stone circle, I demarcated the summer solstice, the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox,” he said. “When it came time for winter solstice, I walked out and put a stone down in the circle. I could see for myself how traditional ancestors would have marked the occasion.”
Goodhouse also suggested cleansing oneself by smudging or going to sweat. “Just get yourself physically, emotionally clean and smudge things down that are sacred to you,” he said.
To attend the winter solstice event, participants must pre-register by emailing bisevents@ndnadc.org. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be available to view on YouTube, to those pre-registered. Transportation is also available. Native Inc. asks interested parties to call (701) 595-5181 by 4 p.m. on the day of the event to arrange a ride.