Who Are the Nakota?
The Nakota (Nakhóta) are the middle division of the Sioux people, though the terminology is complex and contested. The term traditionally referred to the Yankton and Yanktonai bands, numbering approximately 10,000 across reservations in South Dakota (Yankton, Crow Creek, Fort Peck) and Montana (Fort Peck). However, some linguists argue "Nakota" properly applies only to the Assiniboine, who separated from the Yanktonai centuries ago. They speak Dakota/Nakota dialects, part of the Siouan language family. The Nakota occupied territory between the eastern Dakota and western Lakota, mediating between these larger divisions.
Yankton and Yanktonai
The Yankton ("People of the End Village") and Yanktonai ("Little People of the End Village") formed the core Nakota bands. The Yankton, smaller but diplomatically skilled, negotiated extensively with American authorities—often seeking accommodation rather than warfare. The Yankton Treaty of 1858 ceded most of their territory; the Yankton Reservation in South Dakota resulted. The Yanktonai, larger and more mobile, ranged across the Dakotas and into Montana. Some Yanktonai joined the Lakota in armed resistance; others, like the Yankton, sought peaceful relations. This difference in strategy resulted in different reservation placements and experiences.
Assiniboine Connection
The Assiniboine (Nakota/Nakoda) separated from the Yanktonai several hundred years ago, becoming a distinct nation allied with the Cree against other Sioux divisions. They moved north and west, eventually residing primarily in Montana (Fort Peck and Fort Belknap) and the Canadian prairies. Some scholars argue only the Assiniboine should be called "Nakota"—the middle Sioux divisions (Yankton/Yanktonai) actually speak "Dakota" dialect. This linguistic complexity reflects centuries of movement, separation, and recombination among Siouan peoples of the northern Plains.
Contemporary Nakota
Modern Nakota/Yankton communities pursue various paths. The Yankton Sioux Tribe operates Fort Randall Casino, provides services on their South Dakota reservation, and maintains cultural programs. The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (mixed Yanktonai and other bands) faces significant economic challenges. At Fort Peck in Montana, Assiniboine and Sioux share governance of a large reservation. Language preservation works to maintain dialects that bridge Dakota and Lakota. How these middle Sioux communities maintain distinct identity while connecting to larger Sioux nationhood shapes their future in the heart of the northern Plains.
References
- DeMallie, R. J. (2001). \"Yankton and Yanktonai\" (Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 13)
- Parks, D. R. & DeMallie, R. J. (1992). \"Sioux, Assiniboine, and Stoney Dialects: A Classification\"
- Hoover, H. T. (1988). The Yankton Sioux