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Why do many people use the name Sioux for the Oceti Sakowin?

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A Cheyenne River Sioux dancer in colorful traditional regalia performs during the Grand Entry at a powwow, with an American flag and other participants in the background. — Oceti Sakowin A member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe performing during the Grand Entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Rodeo and Powwow, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, September 4, 2016.

The term "Sioux" is a shortened French version of an Ojibwe word used to describe the Oceti Sakowin. While the people refer to themselves as the Oceti Sakowin, meaning "Seven Council Fires," the name "Sioux" became widely adopted by outsiders.12

The etymology of the name is rooted in historical conflict. It is commonly believed to derive from the Ojibwe word natowessiwak, which translates to "little snakes" or "enemies," and was recorded by the French as nadouessioux. Alternatively, some scholars trace the term to an Algonquian root meaning "to speak a foreign language".12

It is important to recognize that "Sioux" is an exonym—a name applied by other groups—rather than the name the people chose for themselves. Using the name Oceti Sakowin honors the self-identification and sovereignty of these Native American peoples.12