I quote, "Lovers were never to be seen holding hands, and man and wife never showed any affection in public. There is no intimation here that the Sioux failed to know all that is necessary to know about the intimacies of marital affection, but this knowledge could not be bandied about. Any overt expression of affection would be uncouth."
The author further states that in events where women and men were both in attendance, they sat separately, with the women keeping their eyes downcast and whispering only to their neighbor. Likewise, the men did not exchange glances with the females as modesty and reserve "were the essence of fortitude."
It's great to be a fiction author. Although I can guarantee most of my facts are historically accurate, I cannot with any certainty say that kissing was indeed a custom practiced in private by the Lakota. I hope to get an answer from someone who might know. :) Feel free to share any resources here in the comments. I think we'd all like to know.
4 comments:
Interesting Ginger. I don't know about Lakota customs, but Kevin Costner wasn't playing a pure Lakota but one accepted by the tribe and Stands With a Fist was adopted and would have had some memories of her white parents. Even if subconscious, so Dunbar and his woman can be perfectly justified in their westernized courtship.
But, as you pointed out, no one minded anyway. :)
Ah, c'mon Beth. I think we know Lt. Dunbar wasn't Indian, but Stands With a Fist was raised by her tribe from childhood. My point should have focused on the couple who raised her, when they were being intimate in a tepee filled with other people. Remember when Stand's With a Fist laid there with her back to them and listened? Gads, wouldn't that be awful?
I agree, we don't know what the real intimacies were and as romance writers take liberties with that aspect of our stories but we all work hard to make everything else in our stories accurate as we can research.
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