The Lakota are one of the three groups of the great Oceti Sakowin (pronounced Och-et-ee shak-oh-win and meaning Seven Council Fires.) Nation. Usually known as Sioux. There are seven tribes of the Lakota: (Lakota meaning friends or allies.) Hunkpapa; (pronounced Hoonk-pa-pa or oonk-pa-pa meaning Camps At The Entrance.) Sicangu; (pronounced She-chan-goo meaning Burnt Thighs, often known as the Brule.) Itazipco; (pronounced Eet-az-eep-cho meaning Without Bows, often known as the Sans Arcs.) Minniconjou; (pronounced Min-nee-con-zhoo meaning Plants By The Water.) Oohenumpa; (pronounced Ooh-en-oom-pa meaning Two Kettles.) Sihasapa; (pronounced She-ha-sha-pa meaning Blackfoot, not to be confused with the Blackfoot Tribe.) Oglala; (pronounced Og-la-la sometimes pronounced Og-a-la-la meaning Scatters Their Own.) Some of their most famous leaders were Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Sitting Buffalo Bull, Rain in the Face, Gall and Crow King.

Pine Ridge is home to the Oglala Lakota who are members of a major Sioux division known as the Western or Teton Sioux. Pine Ridge has a tribal membership that totals 17,775. One third of the total population report Lakota as their first language.

Nakota

Yankton

Yanktonai

As you can see, the Lakota had the most divisions and indeed, were the most numerous. Due to their high numbers and their alliances with the Sistista's (Cheyenne) and Arapaho they dominated the plains and made a tenacious resistance movement.