Native Peoples of Minnesota
Dakota Lakota Nakota Anishinabe
History
The Dakota Nation includes the native peoples who once lived in the northern forests and along the upper Mississippi River in northern Minnesota. In time, the Dakota Nation divided into three groups (Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota), each moving in different directions but still maintaining close ties to one another.
The Lakota are one division of the Dakota Nation, also known as the Western Dakota or Teton. When the Dakota Nation split into three main groups, the Lakota moved from northern Minnesota to the plains north of the Black Hills to the Platte River, and westward into present day Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Known as the great buffalo hunters of the west, the Lakota are the largest division of the Dakota Nation.
The Lakota were the first of the Dakota to leave the forest. Their name means "forest dweller". They headed out west and lived a migratory life, following the buffalo they needed for food, clothing, and shelter. Even though they ranged far from their Minnesota homeland, they still brought back furs to trade into southern Minnesota each summer.
The Lakota consist of seven main bands today:
Sihasapa- Reservations at: Cheyenne River, Standing Rock
Oohenumpa- Reservation at: Cheyenne River
Miniconjou- Reservation at: Cheyenne River
Hunkpapa- Reservation at: Standing Rock
Itazipco- Reservation at: Cheyenne River
Sicangu- Reservation at: Rosebud
Oglala- Reservations at: Pine Ridge
Important Lakota People
Sitting Bull-front left
Red Cloud-front right
Lakota Culture
Food
Lakota people did not plant crops. They gathered wild plants such as onions, potatoes, turnips, strawberries, gooseberries, grapes, plums, and red prickly pears. Lakota people would also trade with sedentary cultures that grew crops.
Along with what they could find growing wild or acquiesce in trade, the Lakota diet consisted primarily of buffalo or Tatanka. Lakota people utilized the entire bison carcass for food, shelter, tools and equipment. Their existence was dependent upon the health and stability of the massive herds of buffalo that roamed on the Great Plains. Other animals such as deer, elk, and antelope would be hunted as well.
Buffalo meat could be prepared in various ways. Feasting usually occurred following a successful hunt. Fresh meat is generally preferred. However, most buffalo meat was prepared for later use. Some was dried in the sun to make jerky. One way to preserve buffalo meat for future consumption was to make pemmican. To make pemmican, buffalo steaks were dried, laid on a large, flat stone, and pounded with smaller stone. When the meat had the consistency of a powder, it was mixed with melted fat or marrow and sometimes wild cherries. The mixture was put into hide bags with melted fat poured on top to seal it. Buffalo prepared in this way could keep for 3 to 4 years.
Shelter
The Lakota lived in tipis which were inhabited by close-knit kin groups. They could be easily transported to follow the buffalo. Tipis were conical structures consisting of poles covered by sewn together buffalo hides. Sometimes as many as 16 to 18 buffalo hides were sewn together for use as a tipi covering. The number of hides used was dependent upon the diameter of the shelter. The covering was held together by wooden pins. Beneath these pins was a small opening used to enter and exit the tipi. A smoke hole in the top of the tipi allowed fires to be built inside. The smoke flap could be opened and closed to control temperature, keep out rain and snow, and provide a comfortable living environment to those dwelling inside.
Clothing, Crafts
Buffalo hides were used to make robes, tipi covers, clothing, moccasins, bags, and carrying cases. The working of hides was generally done by women who would tan them, remove the hair if necessary, and transform them into useful items.
Lakota clothing was made of animal skins including buffalo, deer, and elk. The women would spend many hours following the creation of the structure of the item of clothing decorating it with beads, bones or other natural objects of beauty.
Celebration
Like other Dakota groups, many Lakota bands would meet in the summer and engage in group activities including political council meetings, religious ceremonies like the Sun Dance, sporting events, marriages, and coming-of-age ceremonies. Summers were a special opportunity to see family members who were members of other bands.
Travel
The Lakota were always following the buffalo herds. Only in winter did they cease to follow the herds. Winter camp was usually made along the southern edge of the Black Hills region. They obtained fast horses in the mid 1700s and the Lakota were renowned as being excellent riders. The large amount of horses they owned, combined with their remarkable horsemanship, resulted in their ability to travel longer distances than any of the other Dakota groups.
The Lakota would use a travois, the French word for shafts of a cart, for long distance travel. The travois was made of two long poles that were crossed and fastened above the shoulders of a horse with the ends dragging behind.
For travel on water, the Lakota used bullboats which featured a round framework of willow covered with buffalo skins. They were awkward but watertight.
Bibliography
Minnesota Historical Society. The Dakota or Sioux. Gopher Historian Leaflet Series Number 5. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1970.
Where we are today- http://drivinghawk.com/today.htm
Image courtesy of: Blue Earth County Historical Society
Crazy Horse