Part 5 – Wowacintanka (Fortitude): Enduring with Courage and Heart

The Strength to Continue

In Lakota teachings, Wowacintanka means more than strength — it is fortitude, the sacred ability to endure suffering and hardship with patience, perseverance, and dignity. It represents the inner power of the human spirit to remain grounded during turmoil, to stand unwavering in the face of loss, and to keep going when the path ahead seems impossible.

Traditional Understandings of Fortitude

For the Lakota, fortitude is not measured by physical toughness alone. It is a quality of the spirit, rooted in prayer and humility. It is reflected in the quiet strength of an elder who has outlived generations, in the patience of a mother raising children through scarcity, and in the resilience of a people who have survived forced relocation, genocide, and cultural erasure.

Wowacintanka is a value modeled by both men and women — by warriors who fasted for visions, by grandmothers who held families together through war and disease, and by leaders who stood firm during times of injustice.

Examples from Lakota History

Throughout history, the Oglala Lakota have endured unimaginable trials. From the massacre at Wounded Knee to the traumas of boarding schools, Wowacintanka was the invisible thread that helped the people survive. Even during the darkest periods of colonization, Lakota people preserved their language, their ceremonies, and their identity — quietly, patiently, and faithfully.

When warriors were no longer allowed to carry arms or wear feathers, they became spiritual protectors. When children were punished for speaking Lakota, they whispered it under blankets. When prayer ceremonies were outlawed, they continued in hidden valleys and basements. This is Wowacintanka — the refusal to surrender the soul of a nation.

Wowacintanka in the Ceremonial Life

Lakota ceremonies teach fortitude directly. The Sun Dance, one of the most sacred Lakota ceremonies, demands endurance, physical pain, and deep spiritual strength — all as an offering for the healing of the people. Vision Quests (Hanblečeya) and Sweat Lodges (Inípi) also build inner resilience, guiding individuals to face discomfort and fear in order to gain insight and spiritual renewal.

Fortitude in ceremony is not about proving one’s toughness — it is about sacrifice, surrender, and connection to all life.

Modern Fortitude: Surviving Today’s Challenges

Today, Wowacintanka remains essential in navigating life on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Native communities across the continent. High rates of poverty, substance abuse, suicide, and systemic neglect demand deep spiritual endurance.

But Wowacintanka shines through:

• In youth learning the language against the tide of assimilation.
• In elders sharing stories of survival despite trauma.
• In mothers and fathers working long hours to give their children hope.
• In those recovering from addiction and returning to ceremony.

Teaching Fortitude to the Next Generation

Fortitude is not only inherited — it is taught. We teach it by showing young people how to overcome hardship without bitterness, how to persevere without shame, and how to trust that their suffering has purpose. Community programs that integrate traditional teachings and mentorship help youth understand that strength does not mean domination — it means knowing how to get back up after being knocked down.

Lakota leaders and teachers who model patience, commitment, and humility help cultivate Wowacintanka in the hearts of future generations.

Lakota Women and Wowacintanka

The power of Lakota women in holding families and communities together is one of the most visible embodiments of fortitude. Many grandmothers raised entire generations alone. Many daughters walked through the pain of historical trauma and chose healing for their children. Lakota women are the silent strength in the circle — their Wowacintanka is often not spoken, but felt in every act of care.

Conclusion: Strength Rooted in Spirit

To live with Wowacintanka is not to avoid hardship — it is to face it with spiritual grounding. It is to know that our strength comes not from muscle or might, but from prayer, purpose, and love for our people.

In every generation, Lakota people have shown the world what it means to endure with grace. Fortitude is not just surviving — it is surviving with integrity, with culture, and with the wisdom to turn pain into purpose.

External Resources

• Lakota Voice – Personal Testimonies of Healing
• StrongHearts Native Helpline – Resources for Healing
• Pine Ridge Community Healing Initiatives

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ – We are all related.