Prayer by Sitting Bull

While Sitting Bull and his followers were in Wood Mountain, Canada, they suffered from famine which they will never forget. It was the first winter they spent outside of the United States. Deep snow for six moon (November to April) made it impossible to go hunting on foot or horseback. Horses died for want of shelter and feed, the papa and other food dried and stored away for future needs was pretty well exhausted -- game birds of all kinds were scarce and there was general suffering for man and beast. Sitting Bull seeing the condition of the Indian wrapped himself up in buffalo robe and took as offering the last piece of dried deer meat went up to the mountain and there made the following prayer. Needless to say, the Great Spirit granted Sitting Bull's prayer.

One Bull said:

"Ate, ake wa u welo. Nasnala wookiye kin oyute unsi wicayala na wicayaku sakin heun ate lehanl ceyaya ceciciye. Unsimala ye. Oyate kin nipi cinpi. Pte na tahca woyute mayaku qon iyuha toka hanpi. Wakanyeja ceyapi nakun hunku kin ob kicigluhaha ceyapi. Ate, lehanl ake lehanl leceglala owaglaptaca cicu -- he niye mayaku lehanl niye etkeya gluha waciu ciya. Unsimalayo unsimala yo! Oyate ob wani ktelo. Ate pte kin ku wica yiye kinhan wicani kte."

Father, pity me. You alone can always help the Tribe and now at this time pray to you with tears. Pity me. The people wish to live. The buffalo and deer you gave me food are gone. Children with their mothers cry for food. Father, this is (dried deer meat) you had given me. it is the last piece. I offer it to you. Pity me! Pity me! The people and myself wish to live. Father, send the buffaloes back to us so we can live and not die.

While Sitting Bull was rangling round in the woods, he got tired and laid down under a tree and soon fell asleep. He dreamed that a very beautiful bird was watching him from the hollow of the trunk of the tree. The bird was thus peeping at him he heard something prowling around the forest. It was a bear coming toward him. The bird knocked upon the tree and advised him to lay very still like a dead person. Being inexperienced with such things he became afraid but he heeded to the birds warning and was lying very still. The bear came and passed by. As soon as he was out of sight he awoke and felt safe. He looked up, sure enough, a golden-winged woodpecker was busily engaged in looking, at him and knocking away. SittingBull with hands extended upwards to the bird sang the following song:

"Zintkala waste wanmayalaka na unsimayala"

-Pretty bird you have seen me and took pity on me

"Oyate etan wani kta cin mayakiya"

-Amongst the people to live, you wish for me

"Zintkala kin tokata kiya ohinni taku ciyapiktayelo"

-Bird Tribes from henceforth, always my relation you shall be.

Interview with White Bull.