What Happened to the Earthlodge Builders?

Painting of Hidatsa Village on the Knife River

George Catlin

Quick Facts

Location:

Knife River Indian Villages NHS near Stanton, ND

Significance:

Hidatsa Village

What Happened to the Earthlodge Builders? 

"In the spring of 1834, ...the Sioux launched a massive attack on the villages at the month of the Knife River and burned Sakakawea and Amahami to the ground." (Stewart 1974:296)  

The Amahami Village was where the city of Stanton now stands.    

The Awatixa Hidatsa started another village known as Taylor Bluff, south of Big Hidatsa. Being close to such a large village, like Big Hidatsa, would have helped provide protection from the Sioux. They lived in Taylor Bluff Village from 1834 until 1845. In 1845, all the Hidatsa vacated the Knife River area to settle, north, at Like-A-Fishhook Village. Like-A-Fishhook Village was inundated when the Garrison Dam was completed in 1950. 

In 1837 another smallpox epidemic came to the villages on the upper Missouri River. Again the loss of life was devastating to the tribes. Over 50% of the Hidatsa and Arikara succumbed to smallpox. The Mandan lost 93% of their population leaving only 138 Mandan. Before they encountered Europeans, the Mandan population was estimated to have been 10,000 to 15,000 strong. 

Resilient, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara have joined together to establish the Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation) in Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Their membership is 16,900 strong. 

To find out more, please, follow the links below. 

Why weren't they vaccinated? 

Four Bears Last Words
 
History of Hidatsa: Post-1845