The Singing Scoutmaster: Inktomi and the Emergence of the Lakota People

Long ago, before the Earth was filled with people, the gods lived in the heavens above, and humans dwelled in an underworld deep below the ground. The people in the underworld lived without light, culture, or the knowledge of the beautiful world above. Creation had yet to touch the Earth, and time itself did not exist.

The Sun God, Takushkanshkan, whose name means "something that moves," lived in harmony with his wife, the Moon. But all of this was about to change because of the schemes of Inktomi, the trickster spirit, known for weaving chaos and mischief wherever he went.

Inktomi, whose name means "spider," conspired to cause a rift between Takushkanshkan and the Moon. Through his cunning and trickery, he created jealousy and distrust between the Sun and the Moon, causing them to separate. This separation marked the creation of time, as the Sun and the Moon began their endless dance across the sky, chasing each other but never meeting again.

But Inktomi's trickery did not end there. Some of his co-conspirators were cast out of the heavens, sent to the Earth as exiles. These fallen spirits became the gods of the Four Winds, spreading out in all directions and creating space. The Earth was empty, but it would not remain so for long.

Inktomi took the form of a wolf and ventured deep into the underworld, where humans lived. He met a man named Tokahe, which means "the first," and told him of a world above that was filled with light, beauty, and freedom. Inktomi's words painted a picture of paradise, a place where the people would no longer live in darkness.

Tokahe was curious and agreed to follow Inktomi to the surface. They traveled through a winding cave, the passage that led up to the world above. When they finally emerged, Tokahe was struck by the beauty around him. The skies were wide and blue, the land was green and open, and the sun shone brightly overhead. It was just as Inktomi had promised.

Tokahe returned to the underworld, eager to share what he had seen. He told the other families about the paradise above and convinced several of them to follow him back to the surface. Together, they made the journey through the cave—Wind Cave in the Black Hills—up to the world above.

But Inktomi's promises were hollow. When the people emerged on the surface, they found that life on Earth was not the paradise they had been told about. The land was harsh and unforgiving, and they struggled to find food and shelter. It was a world of beauty, yes, but also one of hardship and pain. The people wanted to return to their home in the underworld, but Inktomi had closed the passage behind them, leaving them trapped on the surface.

The families had no choice but to scatter across the Earth, struggling to survive in this new, unfamiliar world. Inktomi's trickery had brought them into the light, but it also condemned them to a life of difficulty. Yet, the people persevered, drawing strength from one another and learning to live in harmony with the land.

From these first families, the Lakota people were born, shaped by the hardships of the Earth and guided by the wisdom passed down from their ancestors. Though Inktomi's trickery had brought them into a world of challenges, the Lakota embraced their new life, finding resilience and strength within themselves.

And so, the Lakota remember the story of their emergence, the journey from darkness to light, and the trickster's hand in their fate. The entrance to the underworld, known as Wind Cave, remains a sacred place, a reminder of where they came from and the trials they overcame to become the people they are today.