Opinion

Clara Caufield: Northern Cheyenne Tribe loses elder Rubie Sooktis

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

The flag of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Farewell to an Elk Horn Scraper Sister
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Columnist
nsweekly.com

Last month the Northern Cheyenne people lost an elder who may very well be one of the last women to fully fulfill an ancient tribal tradition. Rubie Sooktis (Soaring Woman) was a “sister” to the Elk Horn Scraper Society, one of five military (warrior) societies established by Sweet Medicine, the Cheyenne prophet, many centuries ago.

Within the Tribe, the societies maintain and conduct essential tribal ceremonies; advise the Chiefs and carry out directives given by the Chiefs for the best interest of the entire Tribe. Society members refer to each other as “brothers” a life-long commitment and obligation to care for one another, their respective families and the Tribe as a whole. Traditionally, Cheyenne military societies formed the basis of law and order in the Tribe, the backbone of defense and regulating social and ceremonial behavior.

Rubie was 70 years old, descendent from an honorable Northern Cheyenne family, deeply committed to the spiritual, ceremonial and cultural ways of our people. Her father Charles Sooktis was an esteemed and highly respected Sacred Hat Keeper for years, with his wife Josie always by his side, quietly and dutifully serving the Northern Cheyenne people. They were all fluent Cheyenne speakers, with Cheyenne being their first and most beloved tongue. In her later years, Rubie devoted much time and energy to preserving the Cheyenne language and knowledge of traditional ways.

Rubie’s good friend and colleague, Mina Seminole, shared her knowledge about how Rubie became a Sister to the Elk Horn Scrapers. When she was 16, three Elk Horn Scraper Society members, Charles White Dirt, Irvin Rising Sun and another man came to the Sooktis family home.