Tatanka Win (Buffalo Woman), Mnicoujou Lakota, Vivian Traversie, 98, of Eagle Butte passed away peacefully Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Indian Health Service in Eagle Butte surrounded by her family.
Funeral services were held December 9, 2023. Burial was in the St. Paul Episcopal Cemetery at LaPlant.
Vivian was born on August 9, 1925, at Four Bear village located at Old Cheyenne Agency camp to Jennie White Eyes Logg and Grover Red Fox. She attended school at the Agency. Vivian was raised by her mother and stepfather, Frank Logg.
As a fluent Lakota speaker, Vivian provided her family with invaluable insight and knowledge. She was a caretaker for the elderly in Eagle Butte during the 1970’s doing their errands and maintaining their homes. She also served as a custodian for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a role she took great pride in. Vivian always went the extra mile by preparing and cleaning the coffee cups used by the tribal staff and Tribal Council.
Vivian also worked for the U.S. Post Office in Eagle Butte. During the boarding school movement, she sent all of her children away to boarding school where they were forbidden to speak their Lakota language and were unable to visit their extended family or practice their traditional ways. Vivian decided to send her children away so they could have a fighting chance in the modern world, where
August 9, 1925–November 30, 2023
they would need to be resilient, courageous, and respectful of their Lakota traditions if they were to succeed. Vivian maintained a reclusive lifestyle throughout her life.
Vivian married Theodore “Skido” Traversie and they enjoyed traveling across the country to compete in horseshoe tournaments. She sewed quilts, and she was very proud of the quilt that went to a Tennessee church organization mission. Vivian taught her daughters and granddaughters how to sew and how to make star quilts. She taught them all how to sew by hand, cut out diamonds, and embroider. She enjoyed making crazy block quilts and customized requests.
Vivian enjoyed going to dances, hosting dance parties, and listening to her children and grandchildren perform karaoke at family gatherings. She acted as a role model for other elders through a humble, customary manner that is expected of Lakota people. Vivian appreciated a very independent life and would recall the hardships everyone went through at the Old Agency Camp before any government programs were made available to the people. When times were tough, everyone back then helped one another and lifelong friendships were formed.
Vivian’s family was proud that the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe recognized her as the oldest surviving member of the Old Cheyenne Agency and honored her and expressed gratitude for her service to the Tribe in a manner fitting for the Lakota Nation. The Tribe proclaimed September 5 as Vivian Traversie Day.
Those left to cherish her life include her surviving children: Wanda Lind, William Carter, Clayton Carter, Carol Traversie, Mike Red Fox, Cathy Yellow Hawk, Loren Traversie, Mary Ellen Traversie, Gerald Traversie, Connie (Kurt) Cross and Derek Bartlett; 43 grandchildren, 106 great-grandchildren, 61 great-greatgrandchildren and one special greatgreat- great-granddaughter, making six generations during her lifetime.
Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; husband Skido Traversie; son Bernard Carter; two daughters, Cindy Lou Traversie and Ruth Ann Traversie; two brothers, Steve and Harry Red Fox; sister Beatrice Red Fox; and eight grandchildren.
(Wanda Lind’s address is PO Box 857, Eagle Butte SD 57625.)