ANUKITE : (Anu) means literally opposite, or contrast and (ite) means Face.

ANUKITE or Double Woman is a Lakota figure who played a great role in Lakota Legend and society.

              The Creation of The World.
               During the creation of the world, a beautiful daughter was born to an old man and woman. Known as Ite, she married Tate (the wind) They in turn had four sons who became the four directions. There was also the sun (wi) and the moon (Hanwi) who also had a daughter named Wohpe.  Iktomi the trickster spider, convinced Ites mother and father that she should be with the sun, so  together they conspired to lure Hanwi away from her husband Wi. When Hanwi had left, Ite came in and sat beside Wi, and when Hanwi returned she was shamed. The great creator, Takuskanskan also known as Skan,passed his judgment on all involved in this deceit. Hanwi was given her own time of day as was Wi, iktomi the spider was banished to earth. Tate still loved his wife but Skan only allowed Tate and his sons to be near Ite, but to never actually see her, until there comes a fourth time. Ite and her parents were also banished to earth where it was Ite's fate to have two faces, one beautiful and the other ugly, thus becoming known as ANUKITE or Double Woman " Face on both sides".


The double woman in Lakota society.
Lakota women are traditionally the bead workers in Lakota society. Many patterns and designs are based on the natural world such as the geometric patterns traditionally found in Lakota Bead work. Bead workers were highly revered by the Lakota for their great skill and attention to detail, and as a result women were able to archive status and honor  based upon their beaded creations.
Lakota legend says ANUKITE brought the first bead designs as well as the art of quill working to the women of the Lakota. It is said, "double woman" dreamers are regarded as the very finest  bead and quill workers, their excellence being attributed to  supernatural ability granted by ANUKITE. Only those whose inspiration was  influenced by dreams of ANUKITE  were allowed to create original designs.

Reprinted from a composition by Sandra One Feather
bibliography: Double Woman by Michele D Burger