What is Peta Omniciye?

Peta Omniciye means “the Chiefs that hold council around the fire.”

In the Lakota way of life, the fire is more than flame. It is the center of the tipi, the center of the tiospaye (extended family), the ospaye (band), and the hochokan (village center). It is also the center of the Nation, the center of the universe, and the sacred place from which prayers rise.

Around this fire sits the circle of leaders, families, and communities, joined in unity, guided by respect, and bound by responsibility.

The Fire and the Circle

The first fire begins in the tipi, connecting outward to every family, every community, and finally to the great fire at the hochokan.

Around the fire, the chiefs sat in a circle, with an opening to the east — the east gate, facing the rising sun and new beginnings. They smoked the čhaŋnúŋpa (sacred pipe), shared a meal, and prayed for wisdom before making decisions.

The circle itself is sacred. It ensures equality: no one above, no one below, all united by the fire at the center.

The Four Levels of Lakota Government

Traditional Lakota leadership was organized in four levels, each tied to the fire:

• Ateh – The father, head of the tiwahe (family).

• Nacha – Leader of the tiospaye (extended family).

• Itachan – Leader of the ospaye (band).

• Wakicunze – The camp director, who organized the camp circle.

Above them were the Wichasha Yatapika, the overall leaders who spoke for the Nation as a whole, uniting the fires of the people with the fire of the universe.

Wolakota: The Code of Behavior

Every council around the fire was governed by the Wolakota Code of Behavior, which required respect, organization, and orderWolakota and the Codes of Behav….

• Respect (Waohola): honoring elders, listening with humility, and showing restraint.

• Consensus: leaders guided by discussion, not force; every voice had a place.

• Non-interference: allowing speakers to be heard without interruption.

• Compassion: decisions made with both the heart and the mind, always for the good of the people.

Wolakota was — and is — the unifying force of the Lakota Oyate. Without it, there is division. With it, there is harmony, peace, and balance.

Unity Around the Fire

Peta Omniciye is about more than leadership. It is about unity.

• The leaders gather around the fire.

• The tiwahe gathers around the fire.

• The Nation gathers around the fire.

Every member of the Lakota Oyate has a fire and the responsibility to care for it. When each fire is tended, the family is strong. When families are strong, the Nation is strong.

Why It Matters Today

In today’s world, the teaching of Peta Omniciye is as relevant as ever. It calls us back to the circle — to listen, to pray, to share, to respect, and to lead by consensus.

It reminds us that governance is not about power, but about responsibility. Not about domination, but about balance — with one another, with the Nation, and with the universe itself.

An Invitation

The fire is still here. The circle is still open. The code of Wolakota still guides us.

Peta Omniciye is an invitation:

• To sit by the fire.

• To enter through the east gate.

• To pray, to listen, to speak with respect.

• To share responsibility for the family, the Nation, and the universe.

This is Peta Omniciye: the chiefs that hold council around the fire, the unity of the people, and the sacred way of life that keeps the Nation strong.