These coloring pages were created by Spirit Lake Dakota artist Marlena Myles to celebrate winter! You are free to download for personal/classroom/educational events use only. These come with an augmented reality component that you can activate anyplace to visit with Waziya, the Dakota Spirit of the North Wind!
Two of the coloring pages feature writing by Dakota authors Tanagidantowin/Blue Hummingbird Woman (Tara Perron) and Diane Wilson. Audio pronunciation guide will be added soon.
Wazíya, the Power of the North Wind
The north is the home of Wazíya, Spirit of the North Wind, and of the winter season, Waníyetu. Sometimes depicted as a giant, Wazíya is the strongest and most formidable of all the winds, commanding both respect and caution from the Dakota people and the Animal Nations. With an icy breath that can freeze living flesh into stone within moments, Wazíya embodies the immense power and danger of winter.
He is often at odds with his brother Okáǧa, the Spirit of the South Wind, who brings the warm, gentle breezes of summer. Together, their opposing forces shape the cycles of the seasons, reflecting the delicate balance of nature and the resilience needed to thrive within it.

Meet Wazíya in augmented reality
Watch the video or read below to activate this augmented reality (AR) experience using Adobe Aero:
- Scan the QR Code or Click Link: Use your device’s camera to scan the provided QR code associated with the AR experience or click this link if you are viewing this on your phone.
- Launch the Experience:
- iOS Devices: If Adobe Aero is not installed, an App Clip will automatically launch, allowing you to view the AR content without installing the full app.
- Android Devices: If Adobe Aero is not installed, an Instant App will automatically launch, enabling you to access the AR experience without a full installation.
- If you are having issues, download and install Adobe Aero and scan the QR code again.
- Interact with the AR Content: Follow the on-screen prompts to place such as scanning the ground to find where to place the art and then tapping when it says to place it. Engage with the AR Waziya in your environment!


Hawthorn
Thaspáŋ Sdosdódaŋ (Hawthorn) bushes stand out in winter with their grey branches, long thorns, and bright red berries that birds love to snack on!
These berries, along with the stems and leaves, are also powerful helpers for people. Dakota people use them to make hawthorn tea, which cleanses the blood and supports the heart.
This coloring page features a poem written by Tanagidantowin/Blue Hummingbird Woman (Tara Perron).
Ash trees
Dakota people traditionally craft their Psepháthuŋna (Sharp-Toe Snowshoes) from Pséȟtiŋ (Black or White Ash) or Pseyápi (Green Ash).
Observers of the natural world, Dakota people shape their snowshoes like ash tree seeds, which can cling to the tree in winter, making it easier to identify ash trees.
Tamarack
Once the most common tree in Minnesota, Šiŋtá or Makháŋ (Tamarack) is unique with countless uses. Unlike most needle trees, it sheds its needles in winter, showing off golden colors in the fall before going bare. In early summer, its hard, sweet sap makes a tasty snack. The roots of large tamaracks are sometimes dug up for food and used as strong fibers for making baskets and sewing canoes. The Dakota name for Red Lake, Bde Ša, comes from the roots that give the lake its iconic red hue.
Šiŋtá or Makháŋ is also highly valued for its medicinal properties. The inner bark helps heal burns and wounds, while boiled and crushed leaves and bark are used as an herbal steam to ease headaches and backaches. Its needles can be brewed into tea during cold season to aid digestion and overall wellness.
This coloring page features writing by Diane Wilson.