RELIGION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PLAINS One of the largest and most influential tribe is Lakota. It is also known as “Sioux”, which means snakes. The Wakantanka, which means “the Great Spirit” or “the Great Mysterious”, refers to the 16 deities and was derived from the number 4 (multiplied by the number itself). The number 4 was a sacred number and it refers to the 4 directions (north, south, east, and west). The Wakantanka was known at the Creator. The Inktomi, which means spider, was a trickster figure. He was a spirit that could take any shape, (shapeshifter). Even though he helped and protected Lakota people, he was a bad role model and his stories were told to children to teach a moral lesson. The Lakota believes that four souls
