Esprit de Corps

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text letter_spacing=””]Esprit de Corps is a phrase that most people know the meaning of, but few know the name itself. It is defined as “a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group.” Today we talked as a group about examples of this within the Lakota culture and our experience here so far.
When we first got to the camp, the children were mostly open to us from the onset, and as the days went on the adults began to join them. Nelson Mandela once said, “When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same,” and this sentiment has been very apparent in the way the elders interact and teach the children of Lakota traditions and ways of life. We have had the opportunity to observe and listen to the ceremonies, the conversations, and prayers. Through these, the elders hope to give the children joy and show them that they too can live to be old. They want these young people to pass on the traditions of the Lakota. Even when the children were not paying very much attention to the prayers or ceremonies, the elders were still patient with them and understood that in time, they would learn and understand how special this experience truly is.
In our discussion, we also talked about the ways in which we personally have felt this sense of community and positivity. For example, in the ceremonies of Wopahta Yubleca (Sacred Bundle) and Inipi (sweat lodge), the young Lakota women and men have been “shedding their light” and kindly telling us what to expect and say and how to act, making sure that we are all comfortable while doing the Lakota ceremonies. They are glad to share this experience with us and include us in these important parts of their lives so that we can share their story with the rest of the world.
In retrospect, we have gotten the sense of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty that are ever-present in the Lakota culture, and we hope to share their values and way of life with others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]