“What’s on the earth is in the stars; and what’s in the stars is on the earth”: Lakota Relationships with the Stars and American Relationships with the Apocalypse

How is colonialism connected to American relationships with extraterrestrial beings? This commentary analyzes contemporary and founding US mythologies as constant, calculated attempts for settlers obtain indigeneity in this land stemming from a fear of the “unknown.” From Columbus’s arrival Boston Tea Party, alien UFO fervor paranormal experiences, spiritualism, New Age, Wicca, mythology endlessly recreates conspiracy theories justify its insatiable desire resource extraction. I examine extraterrestrials two directions: Oglala Lakota perspective spirits born through constellation stars, “American” out settler futurities. Manifest Destiny goes so far take ownership over time reconfigure it into linear, one-way street that progression towards apocalypse. For Indians other peoples targeted by United States government, prove true. Those who are targeted, Native otherwise, understand violence pours across continent—abduction assimilation, or death. can Indigenous nonhuman ontologies orient ethics future?