About the Native American Dakota Tribe

The Dakota tribe lived in the region around Lake Superior before European contact in the 1600’s. In the forest environment they gathered wild rice, hunt and fish. They fought with pride against the Chippewa (Ojibwa) tribe for control of the land and the region. The Dakota tribes were driven to Minnesota, due to the fact that the Ojibwa obtained guns from the French, thus making them more powerful to take over the land. Presently, the western Dakota tribe now resides in South and North Dakota.

Fun Facts:

• The Dakota tribe was often referred to by the name Sioux
• The Ojibwa named the Dakota as Sioux, as this is a French word that meant enemy
• Other than Dakota , the people also named themselves as Nakota and Lakota
• Dakota in Santee dialect means allies