The Four Values:

Generosity, Courage, Reverence, and Wisdom. Generosity (Wacantognaka)-

Keeping in the heart. Lakota people have a lot of generosity. A person is looked up to because they are able to provide for their family members and relatives. To give generously, without counting the cost of anything. When someone tells you they like something of yours, we are taught to give it to that person. The worst insult you could possible be called is stingy.

Courage (Woohitika)-Being brave. A person is taught by example and stories how to have great courage. They learn to face hard and difficult things for the sake of others. The person needs to have courage and bravery to take care of others, facing death with dignity and not running away from danger. A person who does something dangerous to help someone else is worthy of honor and respect.

Respect (Wachola)- respecting somebody. There should be respect for one another, in order for people to live together. Elders are respected for their wisdom and the young are also respected because they are the future generation of our people. Also, we must all respect all other living things on this earth. The Lakota people believe that all people and things are relatives. Even though you die you continue to live in everything that is.

Wisdom (Woksape)- wisdom. The elders are well respected because of their knowledge and wisdom. They are able to get good advice about a lot of things because they have seen many things happen and change through out the years. The wisdom people have says a lot, which is an easier way of seeing the real person on the inside.

Talking with my grandmother about The Four Values, I also became aware of new things. The words are in Lakota and have about two different ways to say them. None of them have a gender difference. The pronunciations vary from tribe to tribe. There are seven bands of Sioux tribes and they all have different ways of spelling and speaking each word.

These four words are a major part of our culture. You are taught what it means and you just do what you're told. It's not just one person that you learn from; its all of your relatives. My grandmother didn't learn things from books. It was her grandparents who taught her what she knows.