Knife River Indian Villages

Knife River Indian Villages Sakakawea Village site along the Knife River Traditional corn from 200-year-old seeds NPS Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site North Dakota Hidatsa Village, Earth-Covered Lodges, on the Knife River, George Catlin, 1832 NPS / DARIAN KATH Compilation of map by Sitting Rabbit (Mandan), ca. 1906–7, showing the five villages Bison shoulderblade hoe SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM That’s how Buffalo Bird-Woman remembered her home, in a bustling earthlodge settlement perched on a bluff above the Knife River. For over 300 years these villages thrived, full of Hidatsa families living with the land, trading their products, and welcoming travelers of all backgrounds. Things began to change in the mid-1800s. Reduced in number by devastating smallpox outbreaks the big Missouri near my birthplace. In the shadows, I can still see the Indian villages, with smoke curling upward from the lodges, and in the river’s roar, I hear the yells of the warriors, the laughter of little children as of old. Maxìdiwiac (Buffalo-Bird Woman), early 1900s Garden plots Mandan village Hidatsa village Missouri River Visitors Cottonwoods STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH DAKOTA SHSND 673 & 800 NPS Sometimes I come here to sit, looking out on National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior and forced out of their villages by unfair government policies and actions, the people moved. But still they remain connected to this place, to their home. What makes a home? Is it the people you live with? The place where you live? For members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation—the descendants of the people who once lived here—a home is that and more. It is the connection to this land, to the sacred place where their people originated. Part of the National Park System since 1974, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site protects their home and offers opportunities to study and learn about life in the earthlodge villages. MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY / GILBERT B. WILSON Fancy Shawl Dance NPS This map shows the course of the Missouri River in the 1890s with the historical location of MéɁchiɁaashish Awadí, “the five villages.” The Tribal language is Hidatsa unless indicated by M (Mandan) or A (Arikara). Sacagawea, here with son Jean Baptiste, became a symbol of peace for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sacagawea, 1805. © MICHAEL HAYNES Life in the Villages Meeting of Cultures Big Hidatsa Village Mirahací Awadísh “willow village” ca. 1600–1845 Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara opened their villages, their homes, to visitors. From the mid1700s on, explorers like David Thompson and Prince Maximilian of Wied and artists like Karl Bodmer and George Catlin brought news and exposure to new cultures and traditions while documenting village life. Point made of Knife River flint The Lewis and Clark Expedition spent winter 1804–5 at nearby Fort Mandan (map, far right ). Sacagawea was living among the Hidatsa when she was asked to accompany the expedition along with her husband Toussaint Charbonneau, hired as a guide and interpreter. Sacagawea’s experience with the people, languages, and lands farther west made her a valuable member of the expedition. Visitor records add important detail to our understanding of the history and culture of Northern Great Plains peoples. But the interactions also led to tragedy. Smallpox outbreaks in 1780 and 1837 devastated Hidatsa and Mandan populations and caused residents to abandon several villages. In 1845 they moved to Like-a-Fishhook Village, their last traditional earthlodge village, on the present-day Fort Berthold Reservation. They were joined in 1862 by the Arikara, who had suffered another smallpox outbreak in 1856. © EUGENE M. GRYBA Big Hidatsa Village was located west of the Missouri River and north of the Knife River. Sakakawea Village Awadixáá “elongated village” 1790s–1834 Knife River MéɁchiɁaashish Mááhį Pash (M) neesihUsAhaánuˀ (A) Sakakawea and Lower Hidatsa villages were located south of Big Hidatsa Village and the Knife River and along the river. Missouri River Awáàdhi Máátah (M) čiinaaNIšíšuˀ (A) “river” Amahami Village was located south of Sakakawea and Lower Hidatsa villages and west of and along the Knife River. Lower Hidatsa Village Awadixáá Xíe “lower elongated village” ca. 1525–1780 Ruptare Village was located northeast of and along the Missouri River, at a point where Knife River flows into the Missouri River. Amahami Village AwaxáɁwi “mountain (butte) village” 1790s–1834 Communities were forever changed as people adjusted to life in a new home. Deapolis Village MíɁti Ų́ų́tahąkt (M) “east village” 1790s–1850s Eh-toh’k-pah-she-pée-shah, Black Moccasin, aged Chief [Hidatsa], George Catlin, 1832 Mih-Tutta-Hang-Kusch [MíɁti Ų́ų́tahąkt], Mandan Village, Karl Bodmer, 1834 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM the village of MíɁti Ų́ų́tahąkt (Awatinataka, or “end village,” in Hidatsa). First Mandan and then Arikara lived in the village. Both Fort Clark and the village were abandoned in 1860. Young members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation NPS Traditional varieties of corn and squash in the Hidatsa garden © JERRY HENDRICKS Ruptare Village Rúptaare (M) “earth point village” 1790s–ca. 1806 Deapolis Village was located south of and along the Missouri River, across the river from Ruptare Village. MíɁti Ų́ų́tahąkt (M) “east village” 1822–37 Today SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM One of about nine fur-trading posts in the area, Fort Clark (below and map, far right ) was built in 1831 to encourage trade with the five villages to the north. The fort was next to From about 1525 to 1845 the five villages near the confluence of the Knife and Missouri rivers teemed with life. Up to 3,500 residents lived here. Children played. Dogs barked. Horses roamed. Adults cooked, sang, visited, and protected the villages from rival Tribes. Hidatsa families, joined later by Mandan and Arikara, made their home in semi-permanent earthlodge communities (map). They hunted bison and grew corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers in the fertile ground. They quarried high-quality Knife River flint to make projectile points, blades, and other tools. Part of a vast trading network stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Rocky Mountains, they traded their abundance for animal hides and furs. It was a time of prosperity for the villages and, eventually, drastic change. niineesawatuúNU (A) “over the rise” 1838–60 The people of the earthlodge villages are not gone. Their descendants, members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, are forever connected to this land, to this sacred place where their people originated. It is their home too. Their traditions, stories, and songs—passed from generation to generation—link them. Fort Mandan was located east of the Missouri River and north of and across from East Village and Over the Rise. East Village and Over the Rise were located west of and along the Missouri River, southeast of Deapolis Village. Fort Clark was located not far to the east of them. Fort Mandan Lewis and Clark, 1804–5 Fort Clark 1831–60 The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara are survivors— of disease, colonization, unfair policies. They adapt and evolve. They remain as vibrant and resilient as the corn that grows from 200-yearold seeds (photo at top). Discovered in an early 1800s food cache, this corn, once a dietary staple, passed through the hands of Tribal members to a seed bank in Iowa. Now it grows again on the banks of the Knife River. Explore Knife River Indian Villages Archeological evidence shows people have lived here since the Paleo-Indian period beginning around 11,000 BCE (before common era). Artifacts tell the story of Northern Great Plains Indigenous culture and lifestyle. Above, left to right: Hidatsa tchung-kee game stone; reproduction bison-hide basket, clay pot, Four Bears Exploit robe, and copper pot STONE, BASKET, POTS—NPS / EMILEE FRANKLIN; ROBE—NPS / SIERRA MOEYKENS Tribal Connections NPS Tribal members come to the park to hold ceremonies and share their traditions through music, storytelling, and demonstrations. Students participate in land-restoration projects. Tribal members share heirloom seeds and plant and harvest traditional crops in the Hidatsa garden. Their connection to this land remains strong. Eastern amberwing dragonfly mawúaʔidaahga © KEN SLADE Animal and plant names are in English and Hidatsa. Choosing Present … or Past? Flooding and erosion of the banks along the Knife River, northern pocket gopher activity, and growing vegetation expose artifacts, making them vulnerable to weather damage and looting. With over 50 documented archeological sites in the park, how do we choose what to protect? Can we let nature take its course and still save this irreplaceable evidence? Today scientists use state-of-the-art techniques to identify areas for further study and protection so we can continue to learn from the past. Eroded bluffs along the Knife River NPS State road 200 is 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the park’s northwestern end from state road 37. Bullsnake íixiita © JOSH GRAMLING Big Hidatsa Village (Mirahaci Awadish) site remains are located at the southern tip of North Forest Trail, north of state road 18. Bison, midéegaadi, once essential to village inhabitants, no longer roam wild in the park. Two parking areas are located off state road 18—one north of Two Rivers Trail and one south of North Forest Trail. Northern pocket gopher náagcahci © PHILIP MERCIER Eastern kingbird on buffaloberry, maahishí © JANET E. HILL © BILL THOMAS Mixed-grass prairie © ROBERT PAHRE PHOTOGRAPHY Two Rivers Trail runs One parking area is from state road 18 to located between state the southern end of road 37 and Village Trail. the park, where it makes a loop. Lower Hidatsa Village (Awadixáá Xie) and Sakakawea Village (Awadixáá) site remains are located northeast of the Visitor Center along Village Trail. Visit the Park The Visitor Center is located at the south end of the park off state road 37. The park is 60 miles northwest of Bismarck, North Dakota. Stop at the visitor center for a film, bookstore, and exhibits. The park is open sunrise to sunset daily. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1; check the park website for hours. Hiking Experience native prairie and bottomland forest on nature recreation trails. North Forest Trail: 2.2-mile loop. Two Rivers Trail: 6.2 miles roundtrip. Crosscountry ski or snowshoe trails in winter. Birding Get a bird checklist at the visitor center. Earthlodge and Village Sites Visit the reconstructed earthlodge (below ) near the visitor center. Ask a ranger for a 20-minute guided tour. Walk the 1.3-mile Village Trail to Lower Hidatsa (Awadixáá Xíe) and Sakakawea (Awadixáá) villages. Stop at the Hidatsa garden, open seasonally, to learn about the crops and techniques village residents used. Visit Big Hidatsa Village (Mirahací Awadísh). Programs Park staff and Tribal members demonstrate traditional practices. Check the park website for a schedule. The Knife River runs through the park, dividing the lower two-thirds of the park. The northern end of the park is located along the Missouri River. Fishing Fish for northern pike, walleye, catfish, and trout in the Knife and Missouri rivers. Follow North Dakota state regulations. Explore More Use the official NPS App to guide your visit. Black-billed magpie íihbe © REBECCA MARSCHALL/INATURALIST Accessibility We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the park website. Regulations and Safety Federal laws protect all natural and cultural features in the park. • For firearms regulations check the park website. • Using remotely piloted aircraft like drones is prohibited. • Be careful on uneven and slippery trails and walkways. More Information Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site PO Box 9 Stanton, ND 58571-0009 701-745-3300 www.nps.gov/knri Follow us on social media. Knife River Indian Villages is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. Learn about national parks at1 8/26/22 npf_black.pdf www.nps.gov. Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org IGPO:2022—419-059/82929 New in 2022 Emergencies call 911 Prairie rose micgabá Knife River MéɁchiɁaashish WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / ALEX W. COVINGTON © LAURA GARDNER Earthlodges, built and owned by village women, were the center of family life. Multiple generations cooked, ate, visited, and slept inside. Earthlodges themselves mirror family life. The four center poles, made of cottonwood, and surrounding upright posts work together to keep the earthlodge strong. If one falls, the lodge Eastern cottonwood máhgu © GARY P. FLEMING, VADCR-DNH can fail. Considered living beings, earthlodges remain sacred places where families come together to share traditions, stories, and songs. Today Tribal members honor the reconstructed earthlodge, ensuring it will continue to stand strong like the people themselves. EARTHLODGE—NPS / EMILEE FRANKLIN 12:3