One of the main themes in Waterlily is that kinship was the foremost important aspect of Sioux society. Kinship ties were an obligation and were dominated by strict social rules, which determined the appropriate degree of interaction between individuals. Kinship obligations were a required necessity in order to maintain the delicate and intricate nature of camp life and ascribed to each person's role and status in the group. Waterlily experienced conflict between her own desires and her kinship obligations when Sacred Horse, offered to purchase her as his bride. Although rejection of such an offer was not unprecedented, it was clear that to honor her family and to keep her word she had to accept the offer.[1] Ultimately, it was Waterlily's adherence to kinship ties that formulated her decision.
Kinship not only applied solely to blood ties, but extended into social relationships as well. Social kinship was as important as blood-relatedness and required the same amount of attention and respect. It was social relatives, specifically social parents, that finally allowed Waterlily feel more comfortable in her husband's camp circle. These adopted parents acted as Waterlily's blood-parents and looked after her well-being . She reciprocated by acting as a proper daughter.[2] Kinship however, did not always bring individuals closer together. Several kinship relations required avoidance and distant interactions. When Waterlily becomes part of Sacred Horse's camp circle she could only socially interact with certain individuals in specific ways. Her husband's relatives required a certain degree of distance and she could not share intimacies with her husband's female relatives . Breaking these kinship ties would not only bring dishonor upon herself, but also to her husband, his family, and her own.[3]
Even though kinship ties were often difficult to follow because individual interests may conflict with them, kinship had to be followed under all circumstances. Kinship ties were essential to the survival of the camp circle and under ideal conditions were supposed to be seen as a pleasurable and necessary responsibility.
