# What is the story of Hinhan Kaga, The Making of Owls (Harney Peak) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-story-of-hinhan-kaga-the-making-of-owls-harney-peak/729670 "2015-09-02T02:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-story-of-hinhan-kaga-the-making-of-owls-harney-peak/729670/1 "2015-09-02T02:56:58Z")
In South Dakota, in the Black Hills, the highest peak has been called Harny Peak. There’s a movement afoot in South Dakota to rename Harney Peak, the highest point in the Black hills. It was named thusly by the geographic societies after US Cavalry officer [William S. Harney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Harney). Harney was instrumental during the First Sioux War. He was responsible for the killing of Indian women and children during the [. Naturally, the current residents of the area are not enthused about having their sacred peak named after such a fellow. South Dakota’s geographical society has recently recommended that the peak be renamed to its origian name, **Hinhan Kaga** , which means The Making of Owls. A month later, the board reversed itself, saying that there was no public consensus about what the new name should be. In fact, there are competing traditions, with some saying the name should be, “He Winchinchala Sakowin Hocokata,” which means, “Center of the Seven Sisters Peaks”. I think we can agree that that name is going to be a non-starter. The peak is also famous as the place where [url=[Black Elk - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Elk)]Black Elk]([Battle of Ash Hollow - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ash_Hollow)) received his mystic vision. Black Elk called the place “Okawita Paha.” Here’s an article which discusses the controversy surrounding the attempt at renaming the peak. > **['Hinhan Kaga' disputed as traditional peak name](https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/hinhan-kaga-disputed-as-traditional-peak-name/article_2be40d59-5711-5af6-8c54-6621c638644d.html)** > > Not everyone agrees that “Hinhan Kaga” — so far the front-runner to be the new name for Harney Peak — was the traditional Lakota Sioux name for the mountaintop. Which is all well and good but what I really want to ask is this: **What the story of The Making of Owls?** I tried googling but got swamped by links about the current renaming dust up. Does anyone know the Lakota story? I’d love to hear it. What a killer title. How does one make an owl, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-story-of-hinhan-kaga-the-making-of-owls-harney-peak/729670/2 "2015-09-02T03:06:40Z")
When a mummy owl and a daddy owl love each other very much… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-story-of-hinhan-kaga-the-making-of-owls-harney-peak/729670/3 "2015-09-02T03:38:31Z")
[From here:](http://www.geringcitizen.com/articles.php?ID=5299&Title=Across%20The%20Fence:%20Hinhan%20Kaga%20Paha+%5Bpublished+2014-06-19%5D&Member_ID=1&l=&First_Name=&Last_Name=) > [@](#): > > During the ceremony Basil Brave Heart spoke of a mountain peak in the Black Hills that the Lakota call Hinhan Kaga Paha. The meaning of these Lakota words is difficult to explain though the literal translation would be something like “the mountain of the sacred owl” or “the sacred scary owl of the mountain.” In many Native American traditions the owl is believed to be a messenger and often a messenger of death. So it’s probably not about making owls, but there’s still going to be a back story to that, although maybe no one remembers what is was. ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-story-of-hinhan-kaga-the-making-of-owls-harney-peak/729670/4 "2015-09-02T15:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The most suitable replacement name for Harney Peak, then, is Hinhan Kaga, or “The Making of Owls.” According to the Sicangu poet and educator Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Lakota oral tradition connects the peak to tribal ceremonies. The mountain “is called Hinhan Kaga because of the rock formations that appear to look like owls . . . it is a sacred site already know[n] to the Lakota,” and her “people go to Hinhan Kaga every spring to pray. It is a time of gratitude for the return of Thunder and the return of the renewal of life.” from [here](http://www.nativecairns.org/CAIRNS/Happenings/Entries/2015/5/28_Summer_Interns_Arrive_at_Wingsprings_files/CAIRNS_Statement%20on%20Harney%20Peak%20Renaming.pdf) (pdf)