What is the significance of trees in the Lakota culture? We took a little bus ride out to Ghost Hawk park looking for cottonwood trees. Our research pointed towards the cottonwood tree as being an important part of the Lakota traditions and culture. The cottonwood tree was important because it taught Native Americans how to build tipis.
"I think it would be good to explain to you why we consider the cottonwood tree to be so very sacred. I might mention first, that a long time ago it was the cottonwood who taught us how to make our tipis, for the leaf was an exact pattern of the tipi, and this we learned when some of our old men were watching little children making play houses from these leaves." Black Elk
We found the trees and picked up some leaves. It wasn't long and we had some miniature tipis set up on the ground. You can spot a cottonwood if you know what to look for. This tree has a life span of 100-200 years and can grow as tall as 190 feet. The trunk can get as big as 5 feet in diameter. When the bus rolled into the park we saw the massive, and very old, cottonwood.
They generally grow close to water. In the spring the ends of the buds are extremely sticky. In the summer the leaves shimmer, shine, and rustle in the breeze. The bark is thick and deeply furrowed. When the tree gets old the heartwood typically rots in the larger branches and wind storms can break them off. This also creates habitat for opossums, raccoons, and other tree dwelling animals.
Update: 2003/10/31 01:43:14
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