Inktomi, Wakinyan and Wamniomni

Good morning tiospaye. Today we take you a little deeper down the rabbit hole. It is time. Don’t you think? It is the three named above that we must re-establish relationship with, propitiate and ask for help if we are to live. The three above are inter-related in ways that I will try to explain.

Inktomi is a troublesome heyoka spirit often pictured as a little round ‘human type’ being with stick arms and legs. Inktomi is the first born son of Inyan (the Rocks), and is powerful and called into ceremony for healing and into yuwipi for wisdom. Inktomi is also spider, Iktomi. The color for calling Inktomi/Iktomi is White than Black. Iktomi, spiders, travel underground, over the ground, swing through the air and travel above the ground in trees. They are perceived as being able to travel in all planes of the Mother and so are very knowledgable and wise. They know of herbs, minerals and spirits. They also have a strong relationship with Wakiyan (Thunderbeings) and Wacangli (Lightening) because neither can harm their home, the web. Iktomi also has a strong relationship with Wamniomni (Whirlwind) for the same reason. All know one another and do not harm one another.

The colors for Wakinyan is Black then White. People who make prayer ties or prayer flags initially find this humorous … white/black for spider and black/white for wakinyan. “What is the difference?” they ask. “It is the same. The two colors.”

I understand. The first time, I thought the same. The difference is in the prayer as you make the flags or ties. You pray to the Thunderbeings for help when you make the black first then the white. They hear you. When you make the white prayer flag first then the black Iktomi hears you. You have ‘called their phone number’ hahaha. But, yes, as you look at the the black and white you come to the realization that the two … the spider and the wakinyan … ARE so closely related. Are extremely ‘powerful’ … and must be respected and honored. You see, both of these ‘people’ love Maka Ina, our Mother, and both of these ‘people’ are enraged that we, humans, are killing her.

I am going to repeat that … Iktomi and Wakiyan are enraged that we are killing Maka Ina (our Mother).

Black/White

White/Black

Wamniomni. Whirlwind. (Mni is water) How many hurricanes have we had? How powerful have they become recently? How out of control? How destructive? Yum is the root word wamniomni and Yum is the spirit of love. The whirlwind of love. Yumnika is the spirit that resides in each medicine man and woman. Yum is the spirit, the whirlwind, that is the power of medicine. That stone has two sides … everything has two sides. Good and bad. Light and dark. Happy and sad. Calm and angry. And right now Yum, who loves Maka Ina so much, is so enraged. Wamniomni and Wakinyan are related too … and so then are Wamniomni and Spider. They see the Mother suffering and dying and they cry out … “Why are you doing this?” We are seeing the rage and tears and the screaming of the children and relatives and helpers of The Mother. You must understand that!!!

A black and white/White and Black Star Quilt is being made. A black and white buffalo skull is being painted. A transformation mask is coming of The Mother. All of these things are being finished now and are coming … the two-spirit kachinas are being carved. Wanagitakimimila is being painted on the buffalo skull and the song is coming … the song of the Moth that is tied to Wakinyan. All of this is coming to our tiospaye.

That is what I have been dreaming. That is what has been filling my dreams. That is what I’ve been told I must do … these are the pieces of the puzzle … the colors … the ceremonies … the songs … I will continue to write about this and let you know as the pieces come in. As the songs are finalized. It may not be until the beginning of 2022 when all is gathered. We are even trying to begin a class at WPI on Indigenous wisdom and Climate Crisis. We shall see what happens.

In our fearless leadership to battle the climate crisis, we must be like what was said of only the bravest Lakota warriors who were seen to dart about in battle, ‘wanagitakimimila s’e takuni kokipapi sni.’ (to be as fearless as a moth). People may not like us and we will be irritating. But we will be fighting for The Mother, our children and grandchildren.

I’ll write about socks again soon.

Mitakuye Oyasin

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