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Why was the buffalo important in Oceti Sakowin religious ceremonies?

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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.

For the Oceti Sakowin, religion was an integral part of daily life, and the buffalo held a prominent place in all their rituals.1

While the specific theological reasons for the buffalo's significance are deeply rooted in their spiritual worldview, the animal's central role is evidenced by its consistent presence in ceremonial practices. For example, during the Sun Dance—the most important religious event for the Oceti Sakowin—buffalo skulls were placed upon an altar within the ceremonial structure. Additionally, in some variations of the ritual, participants might attach a rope or thong to their own skin piercings and connect the other end to a buffalo skull, straining against it as part of the ceremony.12

The buffalo was not only a vital economic resource but also a deeply respected entity within the Oceti Sakowin's spiritual hierarchy, where they recognized four presiding powers over the universe, each further divided into hierarchies of four.1