Today, many Sicangu people are enrolled citizens of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota.

The Sicangu Lakota are known as Sičhą́ǧu Oyáte in Lakȟóta, which translates to "Burnt Thighs Nation".

It appears to be a compound word of the Thítȟųwą Lakȟóta dialect, meaning "burned thigh".

They were divided in three great regional tribal divisions: According to the Kul Wicasa (Lower Brule) Medicine Bull (Tatȟą́ka Wakȟą́), the people were decentralized and identified with the following thiyóšpaye, or extended family groups, who collected in various local thiwáhe (English: camps or family circles): The Sicangu give pulverized roots of green comet milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) to children with diarrhea.

Nursing mothers take an infusion of the whole plant to increase their milk flow.