Dakota

Dakota is a term with several related meanings in North American geography, history, and culture. It most commonly refers to the Dakota people, the Dakota language, and the two U.S. states named after them, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Dakota, or Santee Sioux, are Indigenous peoples whose traditional territory covered parts of the upper Midwest, including present-day Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas. They are part of the Eastern Sioux and historically organized into bands and communities. The Dakota language, a member of the Siouan language family, is closely related to Nakota and Lakota varieties; today speakers pursue revitalization and education efforts.

European-American settlement led to treaties and displacement in the 19th century. The Dakota War of 1862 in Minnesota was a major conflict; subsequent treaties and reservations shaped Dakota life for generations. In 1889 the Dakota Territory was divided and the states of North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted to statehood.

South Dakota is known for the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore; North Dakota for the Great Plains, agriculture, and the Missouri River system. The name Dakota is also used in other contexts: as a given name or surname; as the nickname for the Douglas C-47 Skytrain used by Britain in World War II; for the Dodge Dakota pickup; and for the Dakota Access Pipeline in contemporary infrastructure debates.