The Red Day Star, The Women's Star and Venus: D(L/N)akota, Ojibwe and Other Indigenous Star Knowledge

TL;DR

This paper explores Indigenous Ojibwe and Lakota star knowledge about Venus, emphasizing its cultural significance and the importance of preserving this traditional understanding as elders pass away.

Contribution

It documents and analyzes Indigenous star knowledge of Venus, highlighting efforts to preserve and revitalize this cultural heritage through community engagement.

Findings

Venus is associated with femininity and human gestation in Indigenous cultures.

Indigenous star knowledge is at risk of being lost as elders pass away.

Community efforts are underway to preserve and teach this celestial knowledge.

Abstract

In Ojibwe the Morning Star is called Ikew Anung, which means the Womens Star. In Lakota the same planet Venus is called Anpetu Luta, the Red Day Star. Bother cultures have rich and interesting understandings of Venus that relate to other Indigenous cultures throughout the world. Venus is so often related to the feminine because native peoples carefully watched the movement of the star and saw it in the east at sunrise for nine months and then in the west at sunset for the following nine months. Nine months is exactly the time for human gestation. Yet, tragically, the native star knowledge is disappearing as elders pass. The Native Skywatchers project focuses on understanding the Ojibwe and Dakota importance of this and other celestial connections. Working closely with a team of culture teachers and language experts we are building community around the native star knowledge.