Two Kettles

Two Kettles or O'ohe Nuŋpa (O'ohenuŋpa, O'ohenonpa - “Two Boilings” or “Two Kettles”) was a sub division of the Lakota Sioux tribe of Native Americans.

Together with the Sans Arc (Itazipco, Itazipcola, Hazipco - ‘Those who hunt without bows’) and Miniconjou (Mnikonju, Hoĥwoju - ‘Plants by the Water’) they were often referred to as Central Lakota and divided into several bands or tiyošpaye.

Historic O'ohe Nuŋpa tiyošpaye or bands

The O'ohe Nuŋpa or Two Kettles were first part of the Miniconjou tiyošpaye called Wanhin Wega (‘Broken Arrow’), split off about 1840 and became a separate oyate or tribe.[1]

The O'ohe Nuŋpa were often also divided into two groups:[2]

  1. O'ohe Núŋpa (Oohe Noⁿpa - ‘Two Boilings’ or ‘Two Kettles’)
  2. Ma Waqota (Ma-wahota - ‘Skin-smeared-with-whitish-earth’)

History

Before 1843 explorers give no reference to this subdivision. The band appeared to number 800 people. At the usual average of 7 people per lodge, that would make about 115 lodges (tepees when unoccupied)equating to 230 warriors at the norm of 2 per lodge. They were varyingly claimed to live among other herds of buffalo or to live separate from other bands by the Cheyenne River and the Missouri River. They respected white traders and visitors and hunted skillfully. Early on they rarely engaged in warfare but later did so. Later still they signed a treaty agreeing not to attack others except in self-defense.

References

  1. Two Kettles
  2. James Owen Dorsey: Siouan Sociology, Echo Lib, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4068-2595-4

External links