Wakinyan

A dream of a Wakíŋyaŋ, drawing by Black Hawk (Sans Arc Lakota (ca. 1832–ca. 1890), Ledger art, ca.1880

Wakíŋyaŋ is a Lakota word for "thunder". It also may be a portmanteau which associates "wahka" ("sacred") and "kinyan" ("wings").

The word is usually translated as "Thunder Spirits", "Thunder Beings," or "Thunder Birds".^[1] Heyokas, that is contrarians, dream of Wakinyan and can burn cedar (Juniperus scopulorum) to protect themselves from thunder and lightning, since Wakinyan respect trees and will not harm them.^[2]

Filmmaker and storm chaser Martin Lisius produced a short film in 2016 titled, "Wakíŋyaŋ" which honors the Lakota "thunder spirit" Wakíŋyaŋ.^[3]

References

^ Legendary Native American Figures: Thunderer (Wakinyan)
^ Tyon, Thomas (1991). Walker, James R. (ed.). Lakota Belief and Ritual. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p. 155.
^ Lisius, Martin (2016-08-09), Wakinyan (4K), retrieved 2023-12-05

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[1] Legendary Native American Figures: Thunderer (Wakinyan)

[2] Tyon, Thomas (1991). Walker, James R. (ed.). Lakota Belief and Ritual. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p. 155.

[3] Lisius, Martin (2016-08-09), Wakinyan (4K), retrieved 2023-12-05

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