Sioux Women: Traditionally Sacred

"All tasks of women—cooking, caring for children, tanning and sewing—were considered dignified and worthwhile. No work was looked upon as menial, consequently there were no menial workers." —Luther Standing Bear, 1931

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve describes the lives of American Indian women for young adult readers, from their traditional roles to their modern challenges. Focuses on the Sioux people (Lakota/Teton, Dakota/Santee, and Nakota/Yankton) and their culture and experience on the Great Plains

Sioux women are the center of tribal life and the core of the tiospaye, the extended family. They maintain the values and traditions of Sioux culture, but their own stories and experiences often remain untold. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve combed through the winter counts and oral records of her ancestors to discover their past. The result, Sioux Women: Traditionally Sacred, illuminates the struggles and joys of her grandmothers and other women who maintained tribal life as circumstances changed and outside cultures pushed for dominance. Sneve's storytelling powers enliven her personal exploration of the roles of Sioux girls and women, making the book an accessible journey into modern American Indian society.