Hidatsa

The Hidatsa Indians were originally called GrossVentre (Grow van tru) by French trappers and traders (2).They built earth-lodges on bluffs over-looking the Mississippi River. See the example of the earth-lodges in which they lived in the photo following. However, the culture of the Hidatsa Indians, along with other things, has changed significantly in the past years.

One Hidatsa Indian group told their children about a hero known as Charred Body. He is thought to have led the original thirteen clans of the Hidatsa on a magical arrow that flew down from the world above to a site along today’s Turtle Creek not far from Mandan, North Dakota. Here Charred Body bested the local monsters so that his people could begin their existence as human beings (2). The story had claimed to explain the origins of the members of the tribe and the world they live in. Hidatsa Indians are currently connected with the Mandan and the Arikara tribes. These tribes are referred to as the Three Affiliated Tribes. Today the Hidatsa share reservation life and businesses with the Mandan and Arikara near Fort Berthold.

All three of these tribes had permanently lived in earth-lodge villages for centuries before the coming of the white man. Besides the similarity of social and economic life, the people of these tribes have differed in areas such as language. The Mandan and Hidatsa speak a Siouan dialect, while the Arikara are members of the Caddoan linguistic group being related to the Pawnee (3). There were also other differences between the tribes besides language. The Mandan and Hidatsa were village farmers, hunters, artists, merchants and bankers on the plains. There was even evidence found indicating these two groups of Indians were dealing with other Indians from the southwest. The Arikara insisted on acting as a broker in their bartering with the Mexican and the deep southwest Indians in trading for corn during the recurrent droughts, which plagued the southwest (http://www.mhanation.com).

Evidence shows that these village people had a long-term migration. This migration is thought to have begun moving them up stream in prehistoric times. In the latter third of the 18th century, this migration was sharply accelerated because of the ravages resulting from the smallpox epidemic (3). However, the Hidatsa were not affected as much by the small pox due to many members being out on the prairies for annual summer buffalo hunts. Today these three tribes put on a number of annual culture fests. These include events for people to participate in and learn about the culture of the Hidatsa from past and present. Wide ranges of activities that the Hidatsa have valued for several thousand years are offered for everyone to participate in.

Some of the activities include archeology talks, flint knapping, bead working, porcupine quill-work, brain tanning hides, black smith trade items, Northern Plains dances, Indian flute music, tipi raising/folding and etiquette and more. Music is also an important part of the cultural fests. “Drums” is the name given to a group of men and women who beat the dance rhythm in unison on a large drum while chanting or singing in their native tongue (3). See photo of Wayne Fox, hoop dancing. Bill Lutz took the photo at the Knife River Indian Village. Today education is valued to the Hidatsa.Education is one of the most important needs toward providing sound futures for the people of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (3). These tribes are currently giving people the opportunity to earn G.E.D.’s or participate in activities involving life-coping skills. There is also a community collage that offers classes in several areas over satellites.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Hidatsa.

Website of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara): http://www.mhanation.com/main/main.html

References:

Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation."The Three Affiliated Tribes.(2000, 1999) http://www.mhanation.com.

"The National Park Service."Links to the Past.(3 March 2000) http://www.nps.gov.

Written by: Erin Pickard