Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota
In the heart of North Dakota, where the Knife River gracefully merges with the mighty Missouri River, lies a landscape of striking contrasts. Unlike the seemingly endless expanse of rolling prairie that characterizes much of the region, this area boasts a diverse ecosystem of rich wetlands, verdant hardwood forests, and imposing river bluffs. This Upper Missouri River Valley served as a vital artery, a lifeline threading through a sometimes unforgiving terrain, offering sustenance and shelter to its inhabitants for millennia.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota region has been inhabited for approximately 11,000 years. While tangible remnants of these early cultures are scarce, the written records of later explorers and traders, coupled with a wealth of recovered cultural materials, provide invaluable insights into the lives of the people who thrived here. Most notably, the Hidatsa, an indigenous group, established flourishing earth lodge villages overlooking the confluence of the Knife and Missouri Rivers, maintaining their way of life for over five centuries. Their existence was a testament to their ability to live harmoniously with the natural world, adapting to the rhythm of the seasons and drawing sustenance from the land.
The unique environment surrounding the Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota supported a sedentary agricultural lifestyle, a characteristic that distinguished the Hidatsa from many other nomadic tribes of the Northern Plains. Hidatsa women, skilled farmers, cultivated fertile river bottomlands, nurturing crops of corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers. Simultaneously, they constructed sturdy earth lodges on the elevated terraces that provided panoramic views of the rivers below. These lodges served as both homes and centers of community life. Meanwhile, Hidatsa men ventured out onto the vast open prairie to hunt bison, a crucial source of food, hides, and tools, and harvested fish from the rivers, supplementing their diet with the bounty of the waterways.
The village was central to the Hidatsa way of life. These settlements, characterized by clusters of earth lodges positioned so closely that they almost touched, fostered a strong sense of community. Each village possessed its own distinct dialect and unique customs, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Hidatsa people. The earth lodges, known as "awahte," were remarkable feats of engineering, constructed from readily available materials: earth and wood. This construction was primarily undertaken by the women of the village. A completed lodge would typically measure between 30 and 60 feet in diameter and stand 10 to 15 feet high. The construction process, a collaborative effort involving many members of the community, took approximately 7 to 10 days from start to finish. A well-maintained earth lodge could last for about a decade, providing shelter and security for its inhabitants. Upon completion of a new lodge, a celebratory feast was held to express gratitude to all who had contributed their labor and expertise.
An earth lodge provided shelter and living space for 10 to 20 people, typically consisting of sisters and their respective families. Beds were strategically positioned around the outer ring of the lodge, nestled between the supporting poles. Personal belongings were stored beneath the beds, while items used by all lodge occupants were kept on raised platforms similar to bed frames. If the need for additional space arose before the construction of a new earth lodge was feasible, a smaller lodge could be built adjacent to the main dwelling and connected by a short passage. This supplementary structure was referred to as a "twinning lodge." The Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota were a testament to communal living.
Reflecting the deeply spiritual nature of the Hidatsa people, each earth lodge contained a shrine located at the back. The size of the shrine varied depending on the space required to house the sacred objects it contained. The area between the shrine and the central fire pit was considered sacred and was not to be traversed. Corrals for horses were often built inside the earth lodges, but only the finest and most prized war and hunting ponies were housed within, providing protection from theft and harsh weather conditions. Stallions and mares were kept outside, separated on opposite sides of the doorway. A small sweat lodge, an integral part of Hidatsa life, was also constructed inside the main lodge, typically to the right of the entrance near the corral. The sweat lodge served both ceremonial and practical purposes, used for purification rituals and as a means of cleansing and healing. The Hidatsa’s spiritual connection to the land is evident in the Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota.
Villages comprised of up to 120 earth lodges were strategically built on the terraces overlooking the Missouri and Knife Rivers. These permanent dwellings were owned and maintained by the women of the tribe, reflecting their significant role in the community. The Hidatsa’s successful mastery of agriculture allowed them to maintain a relatively non-migratory village life, fostering a strong sense of place and cultural continuity. The villages of Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota were more than just homes; they were the heart of Hidatsa society.
Over time, the Mandan and Arikara tribes joined the Hidatsa in settled villages along the Missouri River to the south. Together, these three groups pioneered agriculture on the Northern Plains, complementing their farming practices with bison hunting and the gathering of wild edibles. Despite their shared identity as earth lodge peoples, conflict and competition were not uncommon between these three communities, highlighting the complexities of intertribal relations.
The site of the Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota served as a major Native American trade center for centuries, long before European contact. After 1750, it evolved into an important marketplace for fur traders. Tribes from across the Northern Plains traveled to these permanent villages to trade goods, socialize, and, at times, engage in warfare. The Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, Assiniboine, and Ojibway tribes, along with white traders, explorers, and artists, contributed to the vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Knife River Indian Villages. However, foreign visitors also brought new diseases that had a devastating impact on the indigenous communities, dramatically altering their cultures and eventually leading to the decline of the traditional lifestyle in the region.
Log and frame houses gradually replaced the earth lodges in the late 1800s, marking a significant shift in the architectural landscape. Today, the descendants of the earth lodge dwellers reside in modern-style homes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, maintaining their cultural heritage while adapting to contemporary life.
Today, the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site stands as a testament to the rich history and cultural significance of this area. It protects the remains of three large Hidatsa villages: Awatixa Xi’e Village, Awatixa Village, and Hidatsa Village. The remaining round earth lodge depressions and midden mounds offer glimpses into the vibrant cultures that once flourished here, reminding visitors of the lives and traditions of the Hidatsa people.
Awatixa Xi’e Village, also known as the Lower Hidatsa Village, was established as early as 1525 and was continuously occupied until around 1780-1785. Home to the Awatixa Hidatsa subgroup, the village covered an area of approximately 10 acres and contained at least 50 earth lodges. It is estimated that 500 to 600 people lived there until it was abandoned after a devastating smallpox epidemic swept through the villages. The survivors relocated to other areas and established the short-lived Rock Village before returning to the area to establish the Awatixa or Sakakawea Village. Today, visitors can access the village site via a short quarter-mile trail that extends from the Visitor Center. This Village Trail continues to the Awatixa or Sakakawea Village, located a half-mile further along.
The Awatixa Village, also known as Sakakawea Village, was occupied from approximately 1790 to 1834. The Awatixa Hidatsa subgroup established the village after the smallpox epidemic forced them to abandon the Awatixa Xi’e or Lower Hidatsa Village. It originally contained as many as 60 earth lodges, and its population fluctuated considerably. In 1834, a Sioux raid resulted in the village being burned to the ground. The survivors are believed to have established the short-lived Taylor Bluff Village on the opposite bank of the Knife River.
Currently, the Awatixa Village faces the greatest threat among the Knife River Indian Villages. The Knife River has eroded a portion of the village, leaving only 31 visible earth lodge depressions. However, this cut-bank erosion allows visitors to observe numerous cultural features and artifacts in cross-section from a trail that runs along the Knife River below the village.
The Hidatsa Village, also known as Big Hidatsa Village, was the northernmost of the Knife River Indian Villages. The Hidatsa-proper subgroup established the village around the year 1600. Covering roughly 15.5 acres, the village contained over 100 earth lodges. It is estimated that between 820 and 1200 people resided in the village. Notable visitors included David Thompson (1795), Lewis and Clark (1804-1806), George Catlin (1832), and Karl Bodmer (1833-1834). The Hidatsa abandoned the village in 1845, moving upriver 40 miles to establish Like-a-Fishhook Village, their last traditional earth lodge village.
In 1974, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark to protect and preserve one of the Northern Plains’ best-remaining earth lodge village sites. The Hidatsa Village remains a site of profound spiritual, cultural, and archeological importance. Visitors can access the village site via a short quarter-mile trail located at the park’s north end.
The site’s museum displays artifacts recovered from the village sites and decorative arts of Northern Plains Indians, providing valuable insights into the history and culture of the Hidatsa people. Outside the museum, visitors can explore a full-scale reconstructed Earthlodge, a Hidatsa garden, and drying racks, offering a tangible connection to the past. Several trails lead from the museum to the three village sites, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape and learn about the legacy of the Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota.
Contact Information:
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
P.O. Box 9
564 County Road 37
Stanton, North Dakota 58571-0009
701-745-3300