When our tribes and nations were still spiritually and socially strong and fully understood the devastating impact of sexual and physical abuse, abusers of women and children were dealt with very severely, including castration, death, or banishment.
As an example, my great-great grandfather, Hinhan Wicasa, Owl Man, was told in a vision he received on Medicine Butte, that he would kill four men, justifiably, in his role as Head Chief and Leader of the Holy Man’s Society of the Magaska Ptesan Wicoti (White Swan People), Ihanktonwan Dakota.
Two of the men Hinhan Wicasa killed were husbands who abused their wives. One wife was Hinhan Wicasa’s sister and the other his daughter. Part of the fulfillment of this vision is described in Singing for a Spirit written by my uncle, Vine Deloria Jr.
Hinhan Wicasa was informed that his son-in-law had abused his daughter again, after his third warning not to this anymore.
Without saying a word Hinhan Wicasa picked up his rifle, mounted his horse and rode to his son-in-laws teepee. Hinhan Wicasa walked inside and said to his son-in-law, “I warned you three times not to abuse my daughter and now I am going to kill you.” With that Hinhan Wicasa pulled the trigger of his rifle and dispatched his son-in-law to the spiritual world. A similar event occurred with a brother-in-law who repeatedly abused Hinhan Wicasa’s sister.
After both killings, as was his responsibility as a Hereditary Chief and Spiritual Leader, he went to a hill overlooking his camp circle. As was tribal protocol, Hinhan Wicasa waited there all night, unarmed, for any of the deceased relatives, who believed that he had killed their relatives unjustly, so they kill him in return if they chose.
On both occasions Hinhan Wicasa returned to the Tipi Circle at sunrise, with great sorrow, but thanksgiving to the Creator, for being able to protect his relatives, for a little longer, from the great spiritual sickness that was coming that was foretold in the sacred vision that was given to him as a young boy. He understood that he needed be strong, as the destined Spiritual Wintertime to come would almost overwhelm our Indigenous peoples, until the coming of the Fourth Generation.
One way or the other, for the sake of us, our beloved children and our future generations, sexual abuse in all its forms, needs to be faced, confronted, healed, forgiven, when possible, and completely eliminated from our Sacred Lands forever.
Brother Phil Lane Jr., Ihankatowan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations