Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe facts for kids

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (Dakota: Wakpa Ipakṡaƞ oyáte) are a federally recognized tribe of Santee Dakota people. Their reservation is the Flandreau Indian Reservation. The tribe are members of the Mdewakantonwan people, one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota originally from central Minnesota.

In 1934, the Tribe was recognized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Today the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation is located on 2,500 acres (10 km²) of land in South Dakota. Notable tribal member Chief Little Crow participated in the Dakota War of 1862.

Tribal information

• Reservation: Flandreau Reservation; in Moody County
• Division: Santee
• Bands: Mdewakanton, Wahpekute
• Land Area: 5000 acres (without boundaries)
• Tribal Headquarters: Flandreau, SD
• Time Zone: Central
• Traditional Language: Dakota
• Enrolled members living on reservation: 726
• Major Employers: Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Royal River Casino

Notable tribal members

• Chief Little Crow (1810-1863) spent much of his life in Minnesota, where he was the head of a Santee band. Little Crow, a bold and passionate orator, established himself as a spokesman for his people. After becoming chief around 1834, he sought justice for his people, but also tried to maintain relations with the whites. In 1862, he led the fight now known as the Minnesota Santee Conflict. In fact, this war was launched only in the face of starvation and only after the federal government didn't present land payments as promised. Little Crow was killed the following year. He is buried near Flandreau.

Education and media

• Newspaper: Moody County Enterprise, Flandreau, SD