|
Santee Indian Tribe History
Santee (Isañyati,
from isañ 'knife,' contraction
of isañta-mde 'knife lake,'
Dakota name for Mille Lacs, and ati, 'to pitch tents at' ). An eastern
division of the Dakota, comprising the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute,
sometimes also the Sisseton and Wahpeton. Hennepin (1680), who probably
included only the Mdewakanton, says (Descr. La., Shea's trans., 203,
1880): "In the neighborhood of Lake Buade are many other lakes, whence
issue several rivers, on the banks of which live the Issati, Nadouessans,
Tinthonha (which means prairie-men), Ouadebathon River People,
Chongaskethon Dog, or Wolf tribe (for chonga among these nations
means dog or wolf), and other tribes, all which we comprise under the name
Nadouessiou [Sioux]" In Le Sueur's list (1700) the Issati are omitted and
the Mdewakanton (written Mendeoucantons) inserted, for the first time. The
name Santee was applied by the Missouri River Dakota to all those of the
group living on Mississippi and lower Minnesota rivers, the Mdewakanton,
Wahpekute, Wahpeton, and Sisseton. Ramsey (Rep. Ind. Aff. for 1849, 74,
1850) and Riggs limit the use of the term to designate the Mdewakanton.
McGee (15th Rep. B. A. E., 160, 1897) includes only the Wahpekute, which
has been the usual application of the term since 1862, when the two tribes
were gathered on the Santee rivers in Knox county, Neb. Reyata is
mentioned as a band and Ptansinta as a village of the Santee.
The tribes forming this group joined under the
collective name in the following treaties with the United States:
Prairie du Chien, Wis., July 15, 1830;
St Louis, Mo., Oct. 13, 1830;
Bellevue, Neb., Oct. 15, 1836;
Washington, D. C., Feb. 19, 1867;
Fort Laramie, Wyo., Apr. 29, 1868.
See Dakota, and the Santee
divisions above given.
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
|
|
