The Lakota word Tiyospaye is made up of two shorter words:
- Ti - A shortened form of tipi, meaning dwelling or living place.
- Ospaye - A cluster of dwellings or a group or herd.
Every Lakota person has many relatives. All of them are part of his/her Tiyospaye, the name given to indicate a person's circle of relatives, including mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins and all relatives from marriage and adoption.
You become part of a Tiyospaye either by birth, marriage or by the ceremony of Hunkakaga, adoption. When you know your relatives, you know where you come from and who you are.
- Hunkakaga - The Making of Relatives
- Wotitakuye - Kinship and Relations
- Avoidance Relationships