Two Kettles or O'ohe Nuŋpa (O'ohenuŋpa, O'ohenonpa - “Two Boilings” or “Two Kettles”) was a large sub division of the Lakota Sioux tribe of Native Americans, numbering about 5000-6000 in 1800, united with the Blackfeet/Sihasapa band in 1824, were decimated by smallpox in 1851, then by cholera, now considered extinct. Survivors lived at Cheyenne River Agency.
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Together with the Sans Arc (Itazipco, Itazipcola, Hazipco - ‘Those who hunt without bows’) and Miniconjou (Mnikonju, Hoĥwoju - ‘Plants by the Water’) they were often referred to as Central Lakota and divided into several bands or tiyošpaye.
Historic O'ohe Nuŋpa tiyošpaye or bands
The O'ohe Nuŋpa or Two Kettles were first part of the Miniconjou tiyošpaye called Wanhin Wega (‘Broken Arrow’), split off about 1840 and became a separate oyate or tribe.
The O'ohe Nuŋpa were often also divided into two groups:
- O'ohe Núŋpa (Oohe Noⁿpa - ‘Two Boilings’ or ‘Two Kettles’)
- Ma Waqota (Ma-wahota - ‘Skin-smeared-with-whitish-earth’)
History
Before 1843 explorers give no reference to this subdivision. The band appeared to number 800 people. At the usual average of 7 people per lodge, that would make about 115 lodges (tepees when unoccupied), equating to 230 warriors at the norm of 2 per lodge. They were varyingly claimed to live among other herds of buffalo, or to live separate from other bands by the Cheyenne River and the Missouri River. They respected white traders and visitors and hunted skillfully. Early on they rarely engaged in warfare but later did so. Later still they signed a treaty agreeing not to attack others except in self-defense.