The Eagle Catcher, Hidatsa Tribe, Edward Curtis 1908

The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Sahnish tribes are located in the Missouri River region. The Mandan tribe was the first to occupy this area, followed by the Hidatsa and Sahnish tribes. The Mandan and Hidatsa were originally woodland people who migrated to the plains at different times, with the Mandan tribe migrating from southern Minnesota to North Dakota around 1000 A.D. and the Hidatsa tribe moving from central Minnesota to join the Mandan around 1600 A.D. The Sahnish tribe lived in the region from the Gulf of Mexico to South Dakota. The migration dates of the tribes were determined through archeological investigations and the North Dakota Historical Society completed a study in 1995. The Mandan and Hidatsa belong to the Siouan linguistic group, while the Sahnish belongs to the Caddoan linguistic group. The oral history of the tribes has been strictly preserved, adding to the accuracy of their history. To learn more about the Hidatsa Nation, visit https://www.mhanation.com/