Names of the North Dakota Indian Tribes
North Dakota is a state of the north-central United States bordering on Canada. There are many famous Native American tribes who played a part in the history of the state and whose tribal territories and homelands are located in the present day state of North Dakota. The names of the North Dakota tribes included the Arapaho, Arikara, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa and Mandan (see above picture).
North Dakota - Indian Territory
Indian Territory was a vast area of U.S. federal territory on the Great Plains reserved for Indians from the 1830s to the 1880s. In the 1870's the deliberate great slaughter of the northern bison herds began designed to prevent the Native Indians continuing the Great Plains lifestyle. Indian Territory eventually became the states of Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. By 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted as a state, Indian Territory ceased to exist.
Fast Facts about the History of North Dakota Indians
The way of life and history of North Dakota Indians was dictated by the natural raw materials available in the State of North Dakota. The natural resources and materials available provided the food, clothing and houses of the North Dakota Indians. Fast facts about the history, culture and life of the State of North Dakota Indians. Discover facts and information about the history of the State of North Dakota Indians.
- Name of State: North Dakota
- Meaning of State name: Dakota is a tribal name of the Sioux meaning “Allies.”
- Geography, Environment and Characteristics of the State of North Dakota: Rolling plateau and Great Plains
- Culture adopted by North Dakota Indians: Great Plains Cultural Group
- Languages: Due to the number of migrant tribes in this area people spoke a variety of languages including Siouan, Algonquian, Caddoan, Uto-Aztecan and Athabaskan
- Way of Life (Lifestyle): Nomadic Hunters and farmers
- Types of housing, homes or shelters: Tepees were used by the nomadic hunters. The semi-nomadic tribes used tepees but also maintained permanent earth lodge villages situated along rivers, others built houses of grass. The farmers used Earth lodges
History Timeline of the North Dakota Indians
The history and the way of life of North Dakota Indians was profoundly affected by newcomers to the area. The indigenous people had occupied the land thousands of years before the first European explorers arrived. The Europeans brought with them new ideas, customs, religions, weapons, transport (the horse and the wheel), livestock (cattle and sheep) and disease which profoundly affected the history of the Native Indians. For a comprehensive History timeline regarding the early settlers and colonists refer to the Colonial America Time Period. The history of the State and of its Native American Indians is detailed in a simple History Timeline. This North Dakota Indian History Timeline provides a list detailing dates of conflicts, wars and battles involving North Dakota Indians and their history. We have also detailed major events in US history which impacted the history of the North Dakota Indians. The Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota are collectively called Sioux. The Sioux, Assiniboine, Cheyenne, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara were the first Indian inhabitants. The Chippewa (or Ojibway), Cree, Blackfeet, and Crow moved to the area in the 1800's.
North Dakota History Timeline
History Timeline of the Native Indians of North Dakota
10,000 BC: Paleo-Indian Era (Stone Age culture) the earliest human inhabitants of America who lived in caves and were Nomadic hunters of large game including the Great Mammoth and giant bison.
7000 BC: Archaic Period in which people built basic shelters and made stone weapons and stone tools
2500 BC: Gulf Formational Period with development of ceramics and pottery
1000 AD: Woodland Period including the Hopewell cultures established along rivers in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States which included trade exchange systems and burial systems
1682: Area claimed by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687) for France
1775: 1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution.
1776: July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence
1803: The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars for the land
1812: 1812 - 1815: The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence
1823: Arikara War - Campaign against Arikara Indians, upper Missouri River, Dakota Territory
1830: Indian Removal Act
1832: Department of Indian Affairs established
1837: Smallpox virtually wipes out the Mandan people at Fort Clark
1862: Sioux Indian war in Minnesota and Dakota. The Sioux killed upwards of 1,000 settlers in Minnesota then fled to Dakota territory pursued by 5000 US Cavalry soldiers
1861: 1861 - 1865: The American Civil War.
1862: U.S. Congress passes Homestead Act opening the Great Plains to settlers
1863: 1863 - 1865 Major military expeditions searched rebellious Indians
1865: The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy
1870's: The deliberate great slaughter of the northern bison herds to prevent the Native Indians continuing the Great Plains lifestyle
1876: 1876 - Battle of Little Bighorn, Montana. Sioux and Cheyenne defeated General Custer and the Seventh Cavalry.
1878: 1878-1879 -- Campaign against Cheyenne Indians in Dakota (Territory) and Montana .
1887: Dawes General Allotment Act passed by Congress leads to the break up of the large Indian Reservations and the sale of Indian lands to white settlers
1890: Battle of Wounded Knee - Ghost Dance War (1890–1891) aka Pine Ridge Campaign. The Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota followed the killing of Chief Sitting Bull. Chief Big Foot led the last band of Lakota Sioux and were massacred by the US Army at Wounded Knee Creek.
1969: All Indians declared citizens of U.S.
1979: American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed
History Timeline of the Native Indians of North Dakota
State of North Dakota History Timeline
History of North Dakota Indians - Destruction and Decline
The history of the European invasion brought epidemic diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, influenza, measles and smallpox. The Native Indians of North Dakota had not developed immunities against these diseases resulting in huge losses in population. Exploitation including the leverage of taxes, enforced labor and enslavement were part of their history, taking their toll on the North Dakota Indians.
North Dakota
- History of North Dakota Indians
- Interesting Facts and information about the North Dakota Culture and History
- Names of indigenous North Dakota tribes of Indians
- Fast Facts, History Timeline and info
- Map of North Dakota
- History Timeline of the North Dakota Indians
State of North Dakota Indians - Additional Pictures and Videos
State of North Dakota Indian History. Discover the vast selection of pictures and videos of Native Americans. The pictures show the clothing, weapons and decorations of various Native American tribes that can be used as an educational history resource for kids and children. We hope that this article on the History of North Dakota Indians will assist in your studies or homework and that you will enjoy watching the videos featuring many pictures of the Native Americans. A great historical educational resource for kids on the subject of the History of North Dakota Indians..
