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Mandan Indian Tribe History
Mandan. A
Siouan tribe of the northwest. The name, according to Maximilian,
originally given by the Sioux is believed by Matthews to be a corruption
of the Dakota Mawatani. Previous to 1830 they called themselves simply
Numakiki, 'people' (Matthews). Maximilian says "if they wish to
particularize their descent they add the name of the village whence they
came originally." Hayden gives Miah'tanēs,
' people on the bank,' as the name they apply to themselves, and draws
from this the inference that "they must have resided on the banks of the
Missouri at a very remote period." According to Morgan (Syst. Consang. and
Affin., 285), the native name of the tribe is Metootahäk,
South villagers.' Their relations, so far as known historically and
traditionally, have been moist intimate with the Hidatsa; yet, judged by
the linguistic test, their position must be nearer the
Winnebago.
Matthews appears to consider the Hidatsa and Mandan
descendants from the same immediate stem. Their traditions regarding their
early history are scant and almost entirely mythological. All that, call
be gathered from them is the indication that, at some time they lived in a
more easterly locality in the vicinity of a lake. This tradition, often
repeated by subsequent authors, is given by Lewis and Clark, as follows:
"The whole nation resided in one large village underground near a
subterraneous lake; a grapevine extended its roots down to their
habitation and gave them a view of the light; some of the most adventurous
climbed up the vine and were delighted with the sight of the earth, which
they found covered with buffalo and rich with every kind of fruits;
returning with the grapes they had gathered, their countrymen were so
pleased with the taste of there that the whole nation resolved to leave
their dull residence for the charms of the upper region; men, women, and
children ascended by means of the vine; but when about half the nation had
reached the surface of the earth, a corpulent woman who was clambering up
the vine broke it with her weight, and closed upon herself and the rest of
the nation the light of the sun. Those who were left on earth made a
village below, where we saw the nine villages; and where the Mandan die
they expect to return to the original seats of their forefathers, the good
reaching the ancient village by means of the lake, which the burden of the
sins of the wicked will not enable them to cross." Maximilian says: "They
affirm that they descended originally from the more eastern nations, near
the seacoast." Their linguistic relation to the Winnebago and the fact
that their movements in their historic era have been westward up the
Missouri correspond with their tradition of a more easterly origin, and
would seemingly locate them in the vicinity of the upper lakes. It is
possible that the tradition which has long prevailed in the region of
north west Wisconsin regarding the so-called "ground-house Indians" who
once lived in that section and dwelt in circular earth lodges, partly
underground, applies to the people of this tribe, although other tribes of
this general region formerly lived in houses of this character. Assuming
that the Mandan formerly resided in the vicinity of the upper Mississippi,
it is probable that they moved down this stream for some distance before
passing to the Missouri. The fact that when first encountered by the
whites they relied to some extent on agriculture as a means of subsistence
would seem to justify the conclusion that they were at some time in the
past in a section where agriculture was practiced. It is possible, as
Morgan contends, that they learned agriculture from the Hidatsa, but the
reverse has more often been maintained. Catlin's theory that they formerly
lived in Ohio and built mounds, and moved thence to the north west is
without any basis. The traditions regarding their immigrations, as given
by Maximilian, commence with their arrival at the Missouri. The point
where this stream was first reached was at the mouth of White river, S.
Dak. From this point they moved up the Missouri to Moreau river, where
they came in contact with the Cheyenne, and where also the formation of
"bands or unions" began. Thence they continued up the Missouri to Heart
river, N. Dak., where they were residing at the time of the first known
visit of the whites, but it is probable that trappers and traders visited
them earlier.
The first recorded visit to the Mandan was that by the
Sieur de la Verendrye in 1738. About 1750 they were settled near the mouth
of Heart river in 9 villages, 2 on the east and 7 on the west side.
Remains of these villages were found by Lewis and Clark in 1804. Having
suffered severely from smallpox and the attacks of the
Assiniboin and Dakota, the
inhabitants of the two eastern villages consolidated and moved up the
'Missouri to a point opposite the Arikara. The same causes soon reduced
the other villages to 5 whose inhabitants subsequently joined those in the
Arikara entry, forming 2 villages, which in 1776 were likewise merged.
Thus the whole tribe was reduced to 2 villages, Metutanke and Ruptari,
situated about 4 miles below the month of Knife river, on opposite sides
of the Missouri. These two villages were visited by Lewis and Clark in
1804. In 1837 they were almost destroyed by smallpox, only 31 souls out of
1,600, according to one account, being left, although other and probably
more reliable counts make the number of survivors from 125 to 145. After
that time they occupied a single village. In 1845, when the Hidatsa
removed front Knife river, some the Mandan went with them, and others
flowed at intervals. According to Mathews, some moved up to the village at
Berthold as late as 1858. By treaty at the Mandan village, July 30, 1825,
they entered into peaceable relations with the United States. They
participated in the Laramie (Wyo.) treaty of Sept. 17, 51, by which the
boundaries of the the tribs of the north wers were defined, and inthe
unratified treaty of Ft Berthold, Dak., July 27, 1866. By Executive order
of Apr. 12, 1870, a large reservation was set apart for the Mandan,
Hidatsa, and Aritra Indians in North Dakota and Montana, along Missouri
and Little Missouri rivers, which included the Mandan village, then
situated on the left bank of the Missouri in lat. 47° 34', lon. 101° 48'.
By agreement at Ft Berthold agency, Dec.1866, the
Alandan, Arikara, and Hidatsa ceded that portion of their reservation
north of lat. 48°, and east of a north and south line 6 miles west of the
most westerly point of the big bend of Missouri river, south of lat. 48°.
Provision was also made for allotment in severalty of the remaining
portion.
According to Maximilian the Mandan were vigorous, well
made, rather above medium stature, many of them being robust,
broad-shouldered, and muscular. Their noses, not so long and arched as
those of the Sioux, were sometimes aquiline or slightly curved, sometimes
quite straight, never broad; nor had they such high cheek bones as the
Sioux. Some of e women were robust and rather tall, though usually they
were short and broad shouldered. The men paid the greatest attention to
their headdress. They sometimes wore at the back of the head a long, stiff
ornament made of small sticks entwined with wire, fastened to the hair and
aching down to the shoulders, which is covered with porcupine quills dyed
various colors in neat patterns. At the upper end of this ornament an
eagle feather as fastened horizontally, the quill end which was covered
with red cloth and the tip ornamented with it hunch of horse hair dyed
yellow. These ornaments varied and were symbolic. Tattooing was practiced
to a limited extent, mostly on the left breast and area, with black
parallel stripes and a few other figures.
The Mandan villages were assemblages of circular
clay-covered log huts placed close together without regard to order.
Anciently these were surrounded with palisades of strong posts. The huts
were slightly vaulted and were provided with a sort of portico. In the
center of the roof was a square opening for the exit of the smoke, over
which was a circular screen made of twigs. The interior was spacious. Four
strong pillars near the middle, with several crossbeams, supported the
roof. The dwelling was covered outside with matting made of osiers, over
which was laid hay .or grass, and then a covering of earth. "The beds
stand against the wall of the hut; they consist of a large square case
made of parchment or skins, with a square entrance, and are large enough
to hold several persons, who lie very conveniently and warm on skins and
blankets." They cultivated maize, beans, gourds, and the sunflower, and
manufactured earthenware, the clay being tempered with flint or granite
reduced to powder by the action of fire. Polygamy was common among them.
Their beliefs and ceremonies were similar to those of the Plains tribes
generally. The Mandan have always been friendly to the United States, and
since 1866 a number of the men have been enlisted as scouts.
In Lewis and Clark's time the Mandan were estimated to
number 1,250, and in 1837 1,600 souls, but about the latter date they were
reduced by smallpox to between 125 and 150. In 1850 the number given was
150; in 1852 it had apparently increased to 385; in 1871, to 450; in 1877
the number given was 420; it was 410 in 1885, and 249 in 1905.
There were, according to Morgan (Am'. Soc., 158,
1877), the following divisions, which seem to have corresponded with their
villages before consolidation:
(1) Horatamumake (Kharatanunanke)
(2) Matonumake (Matonumanke),
(3) Seepooshka (Sipushkanumanke)
(4) Tanatsuka (Tanetsukanumanke)
(5) Kitanemake (Khitanumanke)
(6) Estapa (Histapenumanke)
(7) Meteahke.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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