Web Report 1

Locating the site: Maps

North Dakota: 1. The Knife River Indian Village is right by Knife River, and the Missouri River. 2. Some advantages are that by them being so close by two rivers, they can fish from either river. If a fight broke out between any other villages, they could easily escape by river. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site: 1. Between the groups (villages), I think that their relationships where close. The villages are not that far apart, so I believe that they had a pretty friendly relationship. Northern Plains prehistoric trading system; Trading relationships of the Mandan and Hidatsa Indians, c. 1800: 1. They were in the middle of everyone, and they trade with mainly all of the villages around them. Like places in Canada, and the U.S. 2. Stones that are used to make everyday tools. Knife River Flint which was used for producing durable, sharp-edged implements. Shells and copper, which were used for beads and pendants. 3. Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Commanches, Klowa Apaches, Kiowas

Determining the Facts: Readings

Village Life in the Upper Missouri River Valley (c. 1740-1845): 1. In winter the Indians moved into smaller lodges that were along the bottomlands, where trees provided firewood and protection from the cold wind. They also had a wall of defense of water that is on two sides and a palisade. 2. Their elements where policing the village, scouting, or hunting. 3. The men lived in the household of their wives, bringing only their clothes, horses, and weapons. While the women built, owned, and maintained the lodges, and also owned the gardens, gardening tools, food, dogs, and horses. 4. They taught their children through the spiritual way, and also indicating what a male has to do, and what a female has to do.

5. Raiding and hunting were occupations that the men did. Western Contact: 1. The Hidatsa and the Mandan received many European American Visitors because men were drawn by the prospect of wealth in the fur trade, exploration and national expansion, and simple curiosity. 2. Pierre de la Verendrye- opened up the western Great Lakes region. David Thompson- American fur trader, Lewis and Clark- built a 3 sided fort named Fort Mandan, Toussaint and Shoshone Charbonneau- guided Lewis and Clark westward, Prince Maximillian of Weid-Neuweid- ethnological and natural history notes were primary references on the Mandans and Hidatsas, Karl Bodmer and George Catlindrew clear portraits of the society in their transition, and John James Audubonvisited in 1843. 3. The Indians were more dependent on the Europeans for different goods. The Europeans carried and spread many diseases, such as small pox. The Arikara joined the Hidatsa and Mandan and they were later known as Three Affiliated Tribes.

Visual Evidence: Images

Aerial view of Big Hidatsa Village: 1. That a lot of Indians lived in that area. 2. That where the depressions are, a lot of Indians inhabited that area. Twelve- Post earthlodge: 1. They used the earthlodge for a smoke hole, funerals, celebrations, village gathering and meets. 2. So that they could not run off, to keep them safe from other predator animals that would eat them, and so that no one could not steal them. 3. I think it might have been exciting, because you had all of your family and friends living close by you. Hidatsa Village, Earth Covered Lodges, on the Knife River; Birds- Eye View of the Mandan Village 1. I would describe is setting as kind of voodooish. Some of the tents/teepees have animal skulls on top of them, and they have scare crows standing up in poles. 2. Some are playing, or fishing, and many are sitting on the roofs of their homes. 3. They seem relaxed and playful, even though they have animal skulls on top of the roof of their homes.