THE MOON FROM A LAKOTA VIEW

Today is the day, fifty years ago when the first man landed on the Moon.  I honestly do not get all excited about being an American when it comes to a moon race.  I was three years old soon to be four at the time.  I think my mom was more into the Beatles at the time and of course people were worried about the Cold War.  Students were practicing by hiding under the desks in case of nuclear war.  I feel that I should be happier with the idea of humans reaching the moon.  Nevertheless, I feel proud we made it to the moon. So begins my story, I heard while living and working on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation... After the moon landing the astronauts brought back some rocks.  They of course could not bring many rocks, but they picked out the best ones they could find.  After returning to earth they showed the scientists what they brought back.  After viewing the rocks the scientists found a rock that seemed noteworthy.  They started tests on the rock, and as they further studied the rock, they could not crack it open.  They used all of the technology they had at the time and were dumbfounded by this rock.  There was a man who had an idea after nothing worked.  

The young scientist was from South Dakota, and he told the others about this tribe who seemed to have a way with nature.  He told them about the time he visited the Pine Ridge one summer during his under grad work at the school of mines in Rapid City where he studied geology.  He spoke of a Lakota Holy Man who took him into the country and told him they would be doing ceremony to cleanse the spirit.  It was officially called the Inipi, and we know it as a sweat lodge. The young scientist would come to find that it was a powerful experience.  He would remember it for the rest of his life. So back to the moon rock... As the other scientists were struggling, the young one from South Dakota told the others he would like call the Lakota Holy Man or as the Lakota say, Wicasa Wankan.  So he called the professor and got the number to talk the granddaughter of the old shaman.  They agreed to bring the old man and his granddaughter to their lab, and then he (holy man) would go in and try to figure out this mysterious stone.
After five minutes the old man came out of the room and said, "It is Finished."  They looked into the room and there on the table was the rock. It was split open.  The scientists were AMAZED and asked the holy man what he did to get the rock opened.  The Holy Man told them he prayed and asked the spirit of the rock to reveal itself.  Now the scientists were amazed even more.  So they asked the old man what kind of spirit was it?  The old man said it was a calf spirit.  Now the excitement was fully in the air. They asked the old man how did the calf spirit get to the moon and into the ROCK?   The Holy Man shrugged and said, "I don't know, maybe when the 'cow jumped over the moon'!"

I wish I knew or maybe I do know the man who first told this story. It is one of the best Lakota humor stories I have heard.  I heard it from Chris Eagle Hawk who was my mentor and friend.  Chris is an Eyapaha which translates as "a speaker of the people". Today he can be found at the Pow Wows where our tribes dance and celebrate our Indigenous Cultures.