Arikara

The Arikara, also known as Sahnish, are a Native American people of the Great Plains. Historically they inhabited the upper Missouri River region, in what is now North Dakota and adjacent areas. Their language, Arikara, is part of the Siouan language family, and the Arikara are related to the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples in the region.

Traditionally, Arikara communities relied on agriculture—primarily corn, beans, and squash—complemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering. They lived in villages with earth lodges along river terraces and engaged in extensive trade with neighboring nations. The arrival of horses in the 18th century increased mobility and shifted some economic patterns.

In the 19th century, Arikara people signed treaties with the United States and faced armed conflict and disease that disrupted their settlements. Many were moved to reservations in North Dakota as part of the reorganization of tribal lands; they became part of the Three Affiliated Tribes, sharing the Fort Berthold Reservation with the Mandan and Hidatsa.

Today, the Arikara Nation is a federally recognized tribe within the Three Affiliated Tribes on Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Its government operates under a tribal council, and cultural preservation remains a priority, including language revitalization efforts for the Arikara/Sahnish language and traditional practices.