Part 2 – Woohitika (Bravery): Strength in Action and Spirit
Bravery Rooted in Responsibility
For the Lakota, Woohitika is not the absence of fear — it is the ability to act with courage despite it. Bravery is both a personal and spiritual quality that arises when one must defend the people, protect the sacred, or endure hardship with dignity. In Lakota thought, bravery is not only physical courage in war or danger — it is the strength to live by principle, to speak truth, and to sacrifice for others.
Bravery in Traditional Lakota Society
In pre-contact Lakota society, bravery was expected of all — men, women, children, and elders — though it often took different forms. For warriors, bravery was demonstrated in acts of defense and protection, but it was always grounded in spiritual discipline. Warriors did not fight for conquest; they fought for survival, for honor, and for the protection of their Tióšpaye (extended family).
Bravery could also be seen in a young woman who protected her siblings during a buffalo hunt, or in an elder who chose hunger so that the youth could eat during a harsh winter. Lakota oral history is filled with quiet stories of heroic selflessness — these, too, are Woohitika.
The Four Deeds of a Warrior
Lakota culture once honored warriors who accomplished “The Four Deeds” — markers of great bravery:
- Counting coup (touching an enemy in battle without killing)
- Taking a weapon from an enemy
- Leading a successful war party
- Capturing a horse from an enemy camp
But the greatest act of bravery was to return home with all one’s warriors alive. The highest praise was not given to the reckless — but to the wise, composed, and protective leader.
Spiritual Bravery
True bravery was not just physical; it was spiritual. A brave person showed emotional control, endured pain or humiliation without complaint, and maintained connection to the sacred even in the face of death.
Participating in ceremonies like the Sun Dance or going on a Vision Quest required immense courage. These acts were deeply personal sacrifices for the benefit of the people — expressions of bravery that came from spiritual strength.
Woohitika in Times of Injustice
Bravery took on new forms during colonization. To speak Lakótiyapi in a boarding school was bravery. To keep sacred bundles hidden during the era of bans on Native religions was bravery. To organize during the Wounded Knee Occupation of 1973 was bravery.
Even today, it is an act of bravery for youth to resist the forces of assimilation, addiction, and despair. It is brave to learn the language, to uphold ceremonies, to face systemic poverty with cultural pride, and to protect land and water rights from corporate exploitation.
Lakota Heroes of Woohitika
Countless Lakota leaders have embodied Woohitika. Perhaps none more than Crazy Horse, whose vision, humility, and unmatched bravery defined a generation. He was known not just for battlefield strength, but for refusing personal fame, never allowing himself to be photographed, and living only for the people.
Today, modern warriors — teachers, language keepers, land defenders, artists, and young parents — live out Woohitika in schools, council meetings, ceremony grounds, and protest lines.
Teaching Bravery Today
How do we teach Woohitika to future generations?
- Through stories of our ancestors who stood up in times of danger.
- By showing our children that it’s brave to speak Lakota in public, even if they’re still learning.
- By encouraging youth to lead, to express themselves, and to stand strong in their identity.
- By reminding each other that bravery is not perfection — it’s action rooted in purpose and prayer.
Conclusion: A Bravery for Our Time
In a world that often rewards selfishness and silence, Woohitika calls us to live with courage. The bravery of the Lakota people has not disappeared — it has evolved. It lives in every act of cultural defense, in every drumbeat at a powwow, in every buffalo restored to the prairie.
Woohitika is not just an ideal — it is a necessity. The survival of our culture, our youth, and our sovereignty depends on brave hearts, strong spirits, and a commitment to do what is right, no matter the cost.
External Resources
- National Museum of the American Indian – Native Warriors
- Lakota Biographies – Crazy Horse
- Lakota Voice – Modern Stories of Strength
Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ – We are all related.