OSEU Two: Sidney Byrd– Sidney Byrd’s Naming

Explore OSEU Two: Sidney Byrd– Sidney Byrd’s Naming with available transcripts, learning questions and source alignments in the South Dakota and North Dakota Elder archiv

Interview · South Dakota · Sidney Byrd · OSEU 2

Themes: Land & stewardship, Kinship & family, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Food & plants, Arts & expression, Community & responsibility, Listening & observation, Intergenerational learning

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Learn About questions

(deep listening, information) What’s a “Christian” name? What’s the process for receiving a Lakota name? What’s the significance of the feather in the naming ceremony? What is the Rabbit Dance and why do people not do it anymore? Do all naming ceremonies include the one being named getting their own song?

Learn From questions

(deep sharing, transformation) What do you know about your name or about how you were named? What important ceremonies have you been a part of? Do you dance? What dances do you enjoy? What dances are important to you? Why? Is there a song that you would call “your song”? If so, what experience is it associated with that makes it “your song”?

Transcripts

Sidney Byrd’s Naming - Sidney Byrd - OSEU #2

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My Christian name is Sidney Byrd. My middle name used to be Oliver, but I changed it to Howard… because I got sick and tired of initialing it. My Lakota name is Hoksila Waste: good boy. It was a name of affection given to me by my grandmother. And then, just before I went into…many of them already knew me by that name... just before I went to the Army during World War, a naming ceremony was held in my honor. They gave me the name Hoksila Waste: good boy. They couldn't tie the eagle feather because my hair was too short… so I carried it. In those days, one of the most popular social dances was the Rabbit Dance. We no longer do that… but I led the dancers in this old community hall. We used to do the Rabbit Dance… and I let the dancers and… my dance partner was, Rosebud Sicangu: CANT UNDERSTAND. I've never seen a girl with hazel eyes before. She had green eyes. I called her Green Eyes. So she went and got cartons…tobacco and… gave it to the LAKOTA WORD, the crier… gave the tobacco… and also gave the tobacco to those that sang. LAKOTA SONG. That's my song… and I led the dancers. Hoksila Waste: good boy. He's going to defend the land, the flag, the country… and he's going into battle… defend the land… he's going to the army. That's what the word says.

Resource text

OSEU 2: INTERVIEW WITH SIDNEY BYRD WoLakota Project From the current WoLakota source page: Sidney Byrd’s Naming Sydney Byrd Transcript Lean ABOUT (deep listening, transformation) What’s a “Christian” name? What’s the process for receiving a Lakota name? What’s the significance of the feather in the naming ceremony? What is the Rabbit Dance and why do people not do it anymore? Do all naming ceremonies include the one being named getting their own song? Lean FROM (deep listening, transformation) What do you know about your name or about how you were named? What important ceremonies have you been a part of? Do you dance? What dances do you enjoy? What dances are important to you? Why? Is there a song that you would call “your song?” If so, what experience is it associated with that makes it “your song?”

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