The Mandans Tribe

The Mandans Tribe was mainly located in North Dakota, with rich farming land growing many different plants. The mandans live in earth lodges and use their rich soil to help explorers on their journeys, including Lewis and Clark. They also had an interesting belief system called Animism.

The Mandans mainly lived in North Dakota. They lived inside little huts called Earth Lodges. Earth Lodges are domed homes covered in earth or reeds, “ Wooden domed mound built over the top that was covered with earth or reeds” (Source B). These huts would keep them cool during hot summers, and warm during cold winters. Although the weather changed drastically it had various plants and animals. Some animals included Bison, Elk, and various different fish, “

They grew things such as corn and beans. Most of their economy was based on their food, “... economy was centered on corn, beans, pumpkins, sunflowers and tobacco…” (Source C). They would use these foods they grew to trade and sell. The Mandans also ate various meats such as fish, bison, deer, elk, bears, and wild turkey.

Mandan used their food for more than trading and selling. They also used their food to supply explorers. Some famous explorers that they hosted were Lewis and Clark, “... the tribe hosted many prominent European and American travelers, including American explorers Lewis and Clark....” (Source B). The two american explorers first visited the site in 1804 and established a friendship with the mandan

The five most known chiefs are Abdih-Hiddisch, Mah-To-Teh-Pa, Chief Shahaka, Chief Red Cow, and Chief Gray Eyes. Roles at home varied from men to women to children “... men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families” (Source A). On the other hand the women took care of the household. Mandan women did most of the care and cooking, even though women did most of the child care on some occasions the men would. When Mandan men saw that a family had an important bundle they would arrange a marriage “ A family with an important bundle might arrange a marriage by presenting sacred white buffalo cow robe to the prospective son-in-law, thereby committing him to sponsoring sacred ceremonies that eventually finalizing the marriage “ (Source D). Men and women had different clothing. Men wore Breech cloths, fringed buckskin tunics and leggings and moccasins. On the other hand women wore knee length dresses and leggings, and buffalo robes.

The Mandan people believed in animism. Animism is the belief that everything in the universe and all natural objects have a soul. The main language is Caddoan. Some artifacts the tribe made included pottery, baskets, and painted buffalo robes. The tribal men used different tools for different occasions. For hunting trips the types of tools would include things such as bows and arrows. In war situations the tools would be bow and