A Traditional Lakota Sioux Prayer: Mitakuye Oyasin (All Are Related)

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Tuesday, 05 May 2026

Written by AndEl

[READ TIME: 6 min]

A Traditional Lakota Sioux Prayer: Mitakuye Oyasin (All Are Related)

“All beings are connected in sacred kinship.” ~Crystal Wind

Mitakuye Oyasin is a traditional Lakota Sioux prayer that expresses the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. It recognizes that everything is related and that all beings and elements exist within a sacred web of kinship.

Pronunciation & Correct Usage

Pronunciation: Mee-tah-KOO-yay Oh-YAH-sin (Emphasis on KOO and YAH)
Literal Translation: "Mitakuye" = My relatives/All my relatives; "Oyasin" = All together
Full Meaning: "For all my relations" or "All my relations" — acknowledging kinship with all beings.

Mitakuye Oyasin is a sacred Lakota prayer, not a casual phrase. Use it with reverence and intention. Honor the Lakota people by pronouncing it correctly and using it respectfully.

The Prayer

Mitakuye Oyasin
(All Are Related)

We are all related,
In a circle of life,
A sacred hoop,
Where there is no beginning,
And no end.

We are all related,
In the four directions,
North, south, east, and west,
And in the earth below,
And the sky above.

We are all related,
To the animals,
To the plants,
To all living things,
And to each other.

We are all related,
In a great family,
Of the universe,
Where everything is connected,
And everything is one.

Mitakuye Oyasin,
All my relations.

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin....All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer....

To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.

You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.

Thank you for this Life.

The Meaning: All My Relations

In Lakota understanding, "relations" include:

Human family (biological and spiritual)
All animals (especially buffalo, eagle, wolf)
All plants (trees, flowers, medicine plants)
Water (rivers, lakes, oceans — the blood of Mother Earth)
Earth itself (rock, soil, mineral kingdom)
Sky beings (stars, sun, moon)
Seen and unseen worlds
Past, present, and future generations

Mitakuye Oyasin = Honoring the sacred web of kinship with ALL LIFE.

Cultural Respect & Usage Ethics (2026)

As more people discover Lakota wisdom, it is critical to use it respectfully:

DO:
• Learn the prayer’s true meaning and context
• Use it in genuine spiritual or ceremonial settings
• Credit Lakota culture when sharing
• Support Indigenous communities (buy from Native-owned businesses)
• Integrate it into your personal spiritual practice
• Share to honor connection with all beings
• Learn about Lakota history and current struggles

DON’T:
• Use as a trendy hashtag without understanding
• Claim it as your own without acknowledgment
• Apply it in commercialized contexts
• Simplify its profound meaning
• Ignore the realities of colonization while using Indigenous wisdom

2026 Action: Learning “Mitakuye Oyasin” means committing to justice for Native peoples.

Living Mitakuye Oyasin Daily

Morning Practice:
“As I awaken, I acknowledge my relations: My human family and soul family, the animals who share this earth, the plants that nourish me, the water that flows through me, the earth that holds me, and all beings—seen and unseen. Mitakuye Oyasin.”

Action-Based Practice:

Choose one animal relation and learn its wisdom
Plant something (honoring plant relations)
Protect water (our most sacred relation)
Defend Indigenous rights (honoring the source)
Reduce consumption (respecting all relations)

Ceremonial Use: Many incorporate Mitakuye Oyasin in smudging ceremonies, opening/closing rituals, gratitude circles, moon ceremonies, and Earth healing work.

FAQ / How To Use This Guide

How do I begin practicing Mitakuye Oyasin?
Speak the words aloud each morning with intention. Follow with one small action that honors a relation — human, animal, plant, or water.

Can anyone use this prayer?
Yes, when used with respect, proper credit, and cultural awareness. It is an invitation into relationship, not ownership.

What makes this prayer powerful in 2026?
In a time of global disconnection, Mitakuye Oyasin reminds us of our unbreakable kinship and calls us to live that truth through action.

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