Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation facts for kids

The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (also called the MHA Nation or Three Affiliated Tribes) is a group of Native American people. It is made up of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes. These tribes joined together a long time ago. Their original lands were along the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.

Today, the Nation's land is about 1 million acres. It is located on the Fort Berthold Reservation in northwestern North Dakota. As of April 2022, there were almost 17,000 members of the MHA Nation. About 5,600 members live on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Others live and work in different places.

A Look Back: History of the MHA Nation

This map shows the land promised to the Arikara, Hidatsa, and Mandan tribes in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. The Fort Berthold Reservation today is much smaller than this original area.

How the MHA Nation Formed

The Mandan and Hidatsa tribes became allies after a terrible smallpox sickness in 1837–1838. This sickness greatly reduced the Mandan population. Only about 125 Mandan people survived. To stay strong, the Mandan joined with the Hidatsa. In 1845, they built a new village together called Like-a-Fishhook Village.

In 1862, the Arikara tribe also moved to Like-a-Fishhook to avoid fighting with the Lakota. This brought the three tribes together. They formed a group that became known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. Today, they often call themselves the “Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.”

Later, in 1934, the tribes officially formed a tribal government. They called it the Three Affiliated Tribes. This government helps them act as a sovereign nation, meaning they have their own rules and leaders.

Stories of the Three Tribes

The Mandan People

The Mandan people call themselves Nueta. They are known for being skilled farmers and traders. They grew a lot of maize (corn) and were good at making tools from Knife River flint. The Mandan built strong earth lodges and lived in settled villages. They were not nomadic like some other tribes on the Great Plains.

Famous explorers Lewis and Clark stayed with the Mandan during their journey in 1804–1805. A Hidatsa woman named Sakakawea joined them as an interpreter and guide. She helped the expedition a lot. Because of her importance, her image is on the U.S. dollar coin.

Some old stories and explorers wondered if the Mandan had European ancestors. This was because some of their villages and customs seemed different. One legend even linked them to Welsh explorers. However, the MHA people's own stories say there was some mixing of cultures long ago. Today, the main center for Mandan culture is in Twin Buttes, North Dakota.

The Hidatsa People

The Hidatsa people call themselves Nuxbaaga, which means "Original People." Their language is similar to the Crow nation's language. The Hidatsa are sometimes seen as an older group from which the Crow tribe developed.

The name Hidatsa is said to mean "willows." It came from one of their villages that was near many willow trees. When different Hidatsa villages joined, they used this name for all their people. Today, many Hidatsa people also have Mandan and Arikara family ties.

The Arikara People

The Arikara people call themselves Sahnish. They moved to Mandan territory to escape conflicts with the Lakota (Sioux) in the 1800s. For many years, the Arikara lived near the Fort Clark trading post.

In 1862, they joined the Hidatsa and Mandan at Like-a-Fishhook Village. Arikara men often worked as scouts for the U.S. Army. In 1874, Arikara scouts helped guide General Custer on an expedition where gold was found in the Black Hills. This discovery led to many miners rushing to the area, causing more conflict with the Lakota.

In 1876, many Arikara men went with Custer and the 7th Cavalry on the Little Big Horn Expedition. Arikara scouts were at the front when the U.S. Army attacked a large camp of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Three Arikara men, Little Brave, Bobtail Bull, and Bloody Knife, were killed in the battle. After the battle, some people wrongly blamed the scouts for leaving the soldiers.

Understanding the Land Base

Changes to Tribal Lands

The United States government reduced the land of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara by about 80% in 1870 and 1880. This was done to build a new railroad. Their land was cut down again by 60% in 1886 when the Fort Berthold Reservation was created. In total, about 11.4 million acres of tribal lands were taken.

After the Fort Berthold Reservation was set up in 1886, tribal members were told to leave Like-a-Fishhook Village. They had to move to individual land plots. The government said this would help them become self-supporting through farming.

Tribal leaders worked for 30 years to get fair payment for the lands that were taken. In 1930, the tribes finally received $2.2 million as payment.

Under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the tribes formed their own government. They called themselves the Three Affiliated Tribes, a sovereign nation.

The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation today is about 988,000 acres. About 457,837 acres are owned by Native Americans, either by individuals or by the tribe as a whole.

The Impact of Garrison Dam

In 1943, there was serious flooding on the lower Missouri River. To stop this, Congress decided to build the Garrison Dam.

To build the dam, the U.S. government needed to buy 152,000 acres of farmland on the Fort Berthold Reservation. This land would be flooded by the new Lake Sakakawea. The tribes were forced to accept $5 million for their land. This amount was increased to $7.5 million in 1949. But it was not enough to make up for losing 94% of their best farmland.

Most tribal members had to move to new, less productive land. Building the Garrison Dam greatly changed the traditional way of life for the Three Affiliated Tribes. It made them much more reliant on the federal government.

The tribe asked the government for many years to be paid fairly for their land. In 1992, Congress finally gave the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation over $149.2 million. They also received over 156,000 acres of land. This was to make up for the unfair actions related to the Garrison Dam.

Who Can Be a Member?

As of June 16, 2023, there are 17,228 members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. About two-thirds of the members live off the Reservation. One-third live on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

To become a member, a person must have a certain amount of Mandan, Hidatsa, or Arikara ancestry. Since December 2010, individuals need to have at least 1/8th Mandan, Hidatsa, or Arikara ancestry. This is like having one full-blooded great-grandparent from the tribes. To run for the Tribal Business Council, a person needs at least 1/4th Mandan, Hidatsa, or Arikara ancestry.

How the Nation Makes Money: Economy

The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation sits on top of the Bakken Formation. This area is one of the best places in the United States for getting shale oil. The MHA Nation gets about 90 percent of its money from oil and gas. This comes from royalties and taxes on oil development. In 2023, the Nation bought a 31-mile long pipeline from Enbridge. This pipeline helps move oil from wells to a main terminal.

The Tribal Business Council

The Tribal Business Council is the main governing body of the MHA Nation. It has six Segment Representatives and a chairman. Each member serves for 4 years. There is no limit to how many terms they can serve. The Council holds regular meetings on the second Thursday of each month. Smaller committees meet at other times. For the Council to make official decisions, at least 5 of the 7 representatives must be present.

Famous People from the MHA Nation

• Ruth Buffalo, elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 2018.
• Raymond Cross, a lawyer and law professor who helped Native Americans in important court cases.
• James Dancing Bull, a professional heavyweight boxer. He was a 4-time Golden Gloves Champion.
• Samuel Demaray, an amateur boxer and Golden Gloves Champion.
• Zebadiah Demaray, an amateur boxer, Golden Gloves Champion, and Ringside World Champion.
• Chloe Fredericks, a talented singer and songwriter.
• John (Buzz) Fredericks, a past president of the National Indian Cattleman's Association.
• Maroni Hale, a National Silver Gloves National Champion in boxing.
• Tex G. Hall, served as Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes from 1998 to 2006.
• Denise Juneau, State Superintendent of Public Instruction for Montana.
• Edward Lone Fight (born 1940), a former Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes.
• Cannupa Hanska Luger, a well-known visual artist.
• Alyce Spotted Bear (1945-2013), an educator and Chairwoman of the Three Affiliated Tribes from 1982 to 1987.
• Erica Thunder, Commissioner for the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights. She was the youngest and first Native American to hold this position.
• Destrey Zarfos, a Disc Jockey for a rock radio station in Minneapolis-St. Paul.