Yankton Sioux Tribe

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Yankton Sioux Tribe
of the South Dakota
Western Dakota people
Mississippi basin was used to draft the Treaty Traverse des Sioux as it identified tribal lands. Drafters of the treaty assumed the Big Sioux River
was a geographical boundary for the Yankton when they could walk across it to their quarry at Pipestone.
German settlers recorded Yankton land extended east into Minnesota to the Jeffers Petroglyphs
Yankton Sioux chief Struck by the Ree insisted on making the Pipestone quarry a treaty issue with the United States in 1858. The Yankton refer to the Arikara as the "Ree"
1872 Plat of Yankton Sioux Pipestone Reservation held by the National Park Serrvice
Inlaid Pipe Bowl collected at Fort Snelling 1833–1836, made from stone from the Yankton quarry.[4]

The Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is a

Western Dakota people, located in South Dakota. Their Dakota name is Ihaƞktoƞwaƞ Dakota Oyate, meaning "People of the End Village" which comes from the period when the tribe lived at the end of Spirit Lake just north of Mille Lacs Lake.[5][6][7]

Historically, the tribe is known for being the protectors of the sacred Pipestone Quarry for the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota).

The tribe maintains a free-ranging bison herd.[6]

Government

The tribe's headquarters are in Wagner, South Dakota,[6] and it is governed by a democratically elected non-Indian Reorganization Act tribal council. Its original constitution was ratified in 1891.[8]

It is the only Dakota/Lakota tribe in South Dakota that did not agree to comply with the Indian Reorganization Act and retains its traditional government.

Officially, the Yankton Sioux Tribe is called "Ihanktonowan Dakota Oyate" in the local dialect. The Yankton Sioux, or Dakota people, adopted a unique tribal symbol on September 24, 1975. With minor alterations this symbol serves as seal, logo and flag.

Crossing the yellow portions of the flag approximately one-third from the bottom is an undulating red line. This symbolizes a "prayer" to bind the home in love and safety. Red was chosen by designer Gladys L. Moore, a Yankton Sioux from Union Lake (Ibid), Michigan, because it is a symbol of life. The color red was painted around the lower parts of tepees to indicate that those that visited would be fed or that that particular tepee was one of several in which a feast was to be held.

Reservation

Long Fox, To-Can-Has-Ka,
Tachana, Yankton Sioux, 1872

The tribe's reservation is the Yankton Indian Reservation, established in 1853 in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The tribe has a land base of 36,741 acres (148.69 km2).[9] Most of the tribe moved onto the reservation in the 1860s.[10]

The Yankton treaty of 1858 created a Yankton Sioux Reservation one mile square at the Pipestone quarry in Minnesota. The Yankton people are credited with protecting the quarry from white settlement and the creation of the Pipestone National Monument that now exists where the reservation once was.

Economic development

The tribe owns and operates the Fort Randall Casino and Hotel in Pickstown, South Dakota, and Lucky Lounge and Four Directions Restaurant.[11]

Other major employers include

Indian Health Services, the tribe itself, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Marty Indian School.[6]

Treaties and land cession

The first treaty the United States signed with the Yankton people took place at

U.S. Supreme Court in 1928 to protect their rights and land.[15] A hundred acres of the reservation were taken for the construction of the Pipestone Indian school
in 1894. Native American children were sent to the school until its closure in the 1950s. The Supreme Court ruled that when the Government took that land for the school it had actually taken the entire reservation and that the tribe should be compensated. At that point, the Pipestone reservation was on its path to becoming a National Monument.

For about 11.5 million acres (47,000 km2), a payment of approximately $1.6 million ($43.9 million in modern dollars

agriculture, industrial arts and homemaking. This provided the purpose for construction of the school. The treaty stipulated that the tribe relocate to a 475,000-acre (192,000 ha) reservation on the north side of the Missouri River in what is now Charles Mix County, named for the commissioner who signed the 1858 treaty for the federal government.) The Senate ratified the treaty on February 16, 1859, and President James Buchanan
authorized it ten days later. On July 10, 1859, the Yankton Sioux vacated the ceded lands and moved onto the newly created reservation. After then there are three cessions on record: cessions 410, 411, and 412, all reducing the size of the reservation.

In the 1990s a dispute between the tribe and the state led to the reservation's reduction to its current size. The state had issued a permit for a new

litigation, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Yankton people by determining that "the Yankton Reservation had not been disestablished".[18]

Archery

Archery reached an equital technology with the Yankton Sioux. Made from local materials, the tribe used bows and arrows to hunt deer, antelope and small game. Reportedly, the Yankton could kill a bison with each arrow in a quiver.[19]

Bows Another example of a Yankton bow

sinew
backed. The sinew is coated with a white, chalky material to prevent moisture from loosening the bands. There are remains of red pigment on the belly of the bow, and four red slashes are painted on the back of each limb. The bow is only 45.25 inches tip to tip, and with thick limbs is very strong. The bowstring is two-ply sinew. "The sinew string is broken but well made and is permanently tied to the bottom limb with a slip knot.[19]

Arrows The

Smithsonian has Yankton arrows also collected in 1869,[21] that have metal arrowheads. The four arrows range from 23.75 inches (shortest) to 26.25 inches (longest). Unlike most Sioux arrows from the time and region, these were made from split hickory instead of shoots. With their iron broad-head arrowheads, the arrows could have deep penetration power with the thick hickory shafts. The feathers are two hawk feathers, and one turkey feather used as the cock feather. They are attached with animal glue and sinew string. Blue and green paint is evident underneath the feathers. The nocks are widely flared,[19]

Quivers and case A Sioux quiver and bow case was donated to the archives in 1892.[22] It is brain tanned buckskin with beadwork at the top and bottom. There is fringe as well at the top and bottom, and they are sewn with sinew. The quiver is 26.5 inches long, and the bow case is 46 3/8 inches long.[19]

Transportation system

YST Transit
HeadquartersWagner, South Dakota
Locale
bus service, paratransit
Stops17
Fleet3 (2020)
Websitewww.yanktonsiouxtribe.net/yst-transit

YST Transit, short for Yankton Sioux Tribe Transit, and otherwise known as Ihanktowan Transit is the provider of

mass transportation on the reservation. Nine scheduled bus services operate Monday through Friday between Marty, Ravinia, Wagner, the Fort Randall Casino and Lake Andes. There are a total of 17 stops, with three in Marty, one in Ravinia, seven in Wagner, one at the Fort Randall Casino and five in Lake Andes, while fares are set at $1. Demand-response service is also provided.[23]

Fixed route ridership

The ridership and service statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response.[24]

Ridership Change
2014 25,125 n/a
2015 12,055 Decrease052.02%
2016 12,541 Increase04.03%
2017 12,840 Increase02.38%
2018 15,040 Increase017.13%
2020 7,319 n/a

History

19th century

According to local legend, when Meriwether Lewis learned that a boy had been born near the expedition's encampment in southeastern South Dakota. He sent for the child and wrapped the newborn in an American flag during the council at Calumet Bluff in late August 1804. Lewis declared the baby an American. This boy grew up to become a headman (chief) of the Ihanktonwan Dakota (Yankton Sioux), known as Struck By-the-Ree. However, the journals of the expedition make no mention of this incident.[citation needed]

In December 1862 Little Crow met for a month with the leaders of the Yankton and Yanktonai. Chief Struck By-the-Ree refused to join the Mdewakanton and sent warriors to protect Fort Pierre when Little Crow talked of attacking it.[25][13] When Struck By-the-Ree learned that some of Sleepy eye's band and White Lodge's band had captives on Yankton land he paid their encampment a visit. He offered to trade a horse for each prisoner, two women, and five children, and was scoffed at. The chief informed his visitors they were on Yankton land and would be attacked if they refused his generosity.[13] One source says he was given the prisoners.[13] However, warriors of the Two Kettle Lakota secured their release.[26]

In the spring of 1863, a member of Little Crow's band, Red Cloud, was captured. He reported that Little Crow had wanted to attack Fort Pierre, but had not because the Yankton were providing the fort security.[27]

Notable tribal members

Yankton Sioux Congressional Gold Medal
Yankton Sioux Congressional Gold Medal
This medal is one in a series issued by Congress to recognize the military service of Native Nations to the United States

Gallery

  • 1858 Yankton Treaty monument in disrepair
    1858 Yankton Treaty monument in disrepair
  • Probably Yankton, Sioux. Bow, Bow Case, Arrows and Quiver at the Brooklyn Museum[4]
    Probably Yankton, Sioux. Bow, Bow Case, Arrows and Quiver at the Brooklyn Museum[4]
  • Running Bull - Yankton Sioux Chief signed 1858 treaty
    Running Bull - Yankton Sioux Chief signed 1858 treaty
  • Smutty Bear in 1857 also signed 1858 Yankton treaty
    Smutty Bear in 1857 also signed 1858 Yankton treaty

Notes

  1. ^ Pritzker 329
  2. ^ Pritzker 331
  3. ^ Pritzker 335
  4. ^ a b The Jarvis Collection of Native American Plains Art Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn New York
  5. ^ Yankton, Place Names Connected to the Chicago North Western Railway (Chicago, 1908), p. 172
  6. ^ a b c d e "Yankton Sioux Tribe." South Dakota Department of Tourism. 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  7. .
  8. ^ Pritzker 341
  9. ^ BIA website
  10. ^ Pritzker 340-1
  11. ^ "Fort Randall Casino." 500 Nations. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  12. ^ a b MANAGING THE SACRED AND THE SECULAR: An Administrative History Of Pipestone National MonumentPipestone Administrative History, CHAPTER II: CLEARING FEDERAL TITLE 1858-1928, Hal K. Rothman and Daniel J. Holder, National Park Service Midwest Region (MWR-1-0015-002), Hal K. Rothman and Associates Publishing, 2809 Barrel Cactus Road, Henderson, NV, September 10, 1992 MANAGING THE SACRED AND THE SECULAR: An Administrative History Of Pipestone National MonumentPipestone Administrative History, CHAPTER II: CLEARING FEDERAL TITLE 1858-1928
  13. ^ a b c d The Dakota War of 1862, Columns of Vengeance, Paul N. Beck, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, p.47
  14. ^ Pipestone Indian Reservation, National Park Service, Department of Interior, Washington D.C. updated August 29, 2020
  15. ^ Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians vs. United States, 272 U.S. 351 (1926).
  16. Gross Domestic Product deflator
    figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  17. ^ South Dakota v. Yankton Sioux Tribe, 522 U.S. 329 (1998).
  18. ^ Yankton Reservation not disestablished, LAKOTA TIMES, July 2011, Lakota Times, 29263 SD Hwy 73, Box 386, Martin, SD [1]
  19. ^ a b c d Berger, Billy. 2010. "Treasures of the Smithsonian. Part IV. Archery of the Northern Plains: Sioux." Primitive Archer. Volume 18 (4). August–September 2010. Pages 22-29.
  20. ^ Smithsonian Institution Catalogue number E-8385
  21. ^ Smithsonian Institution Catalogue Number E-8385
  22. ^ Smithsonian Institution Catalogue Number E-154017
  23. ^ "YST Transit". Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  24. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  25. ^ Struck by Ree, Lives of the Chiefs and other Biographies, Witness, A Hunkpapha Strong Heart Josephine Waggoner, University Of Lincoln Press, 2013, p.657
  26. ^ The Wisdom of the Fool Soldiers, Michael Zimny, South Dakota Maagazine.com, Feb.6, 2019, [2]
  27. ^ Indian War, The Goodhue Volunteer, 22 Apr 1863, p.2, Newspapers.com, 2023,[3]

References

  • Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

External links