Part 1.2 – Migration to the Plains: Becoming Buffalo Nation

Understanding the Lakota's Journey to the West

Long before the vast plains of the Dakotas echoed with the thunder of horse hooves and the chants of the Sun Dance, the ancestors of the Lakota lived in the woodlands of the Upper Midwest. They were part of a larger Siouan-speaking group that spanned from the Ohio Valley to the Great Lakes region. Over centuries, these people moved westward, adapting to new environments, new threats, and new opportunities. For the Lakota, this journey would eventually lead them to the heart of the Great Plains—a land of open skies, sacred hills, and millions of buffalo.

From Woodland to Grassland

The early Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota peoples lived in forested areas where they hunted deer and fished rivers. Their transition to the Plains began gradually, pushed by European encroachment, intertribal conflict, and the pull of the open prairies. By the 1600s and 1700s, the Lakota were moving west of the Mississippi River.

This migration wasn’t only geographical—it was cultural. As the Lakota entered the Plains, they encountered a new ecosystem dominated by bison, wild prairie grasses, and extreme seasons. The abundance of buffalo (Tatanka) was transformational. The Lakota became expert buffalo hunters and built their entire lifeways around the herds. They used every part of the animal—meat for food, hides for shelter and clothing, bones for tools, and sinew for string. The buffalo became not just a resource, but a relative, sacred and central to Lakota identity.

The Horse Revolution

A pivotal moment in Lakota migration was the adoption of the horse. Introduced by the Spanish in the Southwest, horses began to spread northward through trade and conflict. By the mid-1700s, the Lakota had fully integrated horses into their society. This transformed hunting, warfare, and travel. What once required days on foot could now be accomplished in hours.

Horses allowed the Lakota to follow buffalo more efficiently, defend their territories, and expand across the Plains. They became renowned riders, and their warrior societies took on new strength. The Lakota’s mastery of horsemanship became legendary among both Native and non-Native observers.

A New Homeland: He Sapa and the Plains

By the early 1800s, the Lakota had firmly established themselves in what is now western South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana. They moved into the sacred Black Hills (He Sapa), a central spiritual and geographical anchor for the Lakota. These lands were not just strategically important—they were holy. Ceremonies, vision quests, and prayer took place here, and the connection between people and place deepened.

As they settled the Plains, the Lakota also developed strong relationships with other tribes through both diplomacy and warfare. They competed with the Crow, Pawnee, Arikara, and others, while also forming alliances with other Sioux and Plains tribes.

The Buffalo Nation Identity

With their roots now deep in the prairie, the Lakota became a true “Buffalo Nation.” Their songs, stories, ceremonies, and governance reflected the rhythms of buffalo life. The Sun Dance, the sacred pipe, and the role of the buffalo in creation stories all reflected this connection. Lakota language itself evolved, incorporating new words for life on the Plains.

This identity shaped how the Lakota saw themselves: as part of the natural world, not above it. The buffalo was not a commodity—it was a teacher, a provider, a spirit.

Conclusion: A Nation Transformed

The migration to the Plains was not simply a relocation—it was a cultural rebirth. The Lakota who emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries were a people transformed by land, animals, and ceremony. They carried the wisdom of their woodland ancestors but became something entirely new.

They became the Oglala Lakota—Buffalo Nation, strong in spirit and guardians of the Plains.

External Resources

• National Park Service: Plains Indian Culture
• Smithsonian Institution: Native Cultures of the Northern Plains
• Oglala Lakota College: Lakota Studies

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ – We are all related.