The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, which was established in 1974, preserves the historic and archaeological remnants of bands of Hidatsa, Northern Plains Indians, in North Dakota. This area was a major trading and agricultural area. Three villages were known to occupy the Knife area. In general, these three villages are known as Hidatsa villages. Broken down, the individual villages are Awatixa Xi'e (lower Hidatsa village), Awatixa and Big Hidatsa village. Awatixa Xi'e is believed to be the oldest village of the three. The Big Hidatsa village was established around 1600.
Geography
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is located in central North Dakota, at the confluence of the Knife River with the Missouri River. The village is located ½ mile north of present-day Stanton, North Dakota, 1 hour north west of Bismarck, and 1 ½ hours south west of Minot, North Dakota. The Knife River is a tributary to the Missouri River. Scenic sights such as broad plains, river bluffs, and river bottom forests can all be seen along the two rivers. The national park borders both sides of the Knife River, and is made up of a forested peninsula along the length of the river.
The Missouri River is known as the "Big Muddy" due to its high sedimentation loads. The Missouri River drains approximately one-sixth of the United States and its basin encompasses . During the pre-development period, the Missouri River represented one of North America's most diverse ecosystems.
History
Village
At the Knife River Indian Villages National Historical Site there are the visible remains of earth-lodge dwellings, cache pits, and travois trails. The remains of the earth-lodge dwellings can be seen as large circular depressions in the ground. These dwellings were as large as 40 feet in diameter and 14 feet high. They were made entirely of wood, covered by a layer of willows which was, in turn covered by a layer of dried grass. The grass layer was covered by about 4 inches of earth - hence the name. Many were once large enough to house up to 2 families. Their most valued horses were kept overnight in a coral by the door. The dwellings were constructed at ground level, but daily sweeping created a floor somewhat lower than the ground outside. The fire place was in the center and a hole in the roof allowed the smoke to get out. As the dwellings were abandoned, the walls and roof collapsed and created the visible outer circular rim.
Sakakawea (Sacagawea) was a Shoshone captive who lived in one of the villages of the Knife River. The presence of Sakakawea and her son on the Lewis and Clark Expedition was extremely crucial to the safety and guidance of the party and the success of their mission. In addition to her ability to translate for them, tribes who encountered the party believed that the presence of the young woman and child indicated they were not a threat. This is due to the fact that war parties did not allow women and children to accompany them.
The Knife River Villages served as an important major central trading and agricultural area. The Native Americans served as middlemen in a trading network that stretched from Minnesota, to the Great Plains and Gulf Coast, and the Northwest Pacific Coast. Their trading largely consisted of furs, guns, and metals such as copper, but the Hidatsa and Mandan also traded corn and other agricultural products. They raised corn, beans and squash as well as sunflowers in their extensive gardens which were managed by the women.
Smallpox epidemic
The Knife River villages thrived until 1837 when a series of smallpox outbreaks nearly wiped out the population; they suffered a 50% loss in population. Gradually survivors of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara villages migrated north and developed the village of Like-a-Fishhook.
The smallpox outbreaks from 1837–1840 had a 90% death rate among the Mandan. The two Mandan villages that had been in contact with Lewis and Clark suffered the horrific effects of the virus. The smallpox outbreak lasted from 1837–1838 and, out of 1,600 Mandan villagers, 31 survived. The smallpox epidemic was largely spread through the trading business. Despite warnings of outbreaks, Native Americans still visited trading posts and became exposed to the virus. Once the infected Mandan villages were empty, neighboring peoples raided the village for goods but suffered after carrying back the virus via blankets, horses, and household tools.