Inyan, his spirit is Wakan Tanka

James R. Walker's narrative of the Lakota creation story illustrates the importance of rock in understanding the Lakota notion of wakan tanka, the great incomprehensibility. The Rock principle is represented by Inyan, creator of the universe. Inyan, as amorphous rock, is the pure potentiality of everything in creation.


In Lakota tradition, Inyan, or Rock, existed first, and created out of himself everything else. The waters of the earth were his blood. After he sacrificed most of himself to create the earth, he was left hard and still as we see him today. The thunderbirds, Wakinyan, are his messengers. He is wise and his spirit is Wakan Tanka.