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Sioux
(Lakota or Dakota)
I.
Introduction
Sioux, important confederacy of North American tribes
of the Siouan language family and of the Plains
culture area.
The
Ojibwa word for the group,
rendered into French by early explorers and traders
as Nadouessioux, was shortened to Sioux and passed
into English.
The
Sioux generally call themselves Lakota or Dakota,
meaning "allies."
The
seven tribes fall into three major divisions: the
sedentary and agricultural Santee; the Nakota; and
the warrior and buffalo-hunter Teton.
In
the 17th century the Sioux comprised small bands of
Woodland peoples in the Mille Lacs region of present-day
Minnesota. They lived on small game, deer, and wild
rice, and were surrounded by large rival tribes.
Conflict
with their enemy, the Ojibwa people, forced the Sioux
to move to the buffalo ranges of the Great Plains.
As they became adept buffalo hunters, the tribes grew
and prospered.
By
1750 the Sioux comprised some 30,000 people firmly
established in the heartland of the northern Great
Plains. They dominated this region for the next century.
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Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com
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