Nakota

Nakota is the name used for one of the three main divisions of the Sioux Nation, alongside the Dakota and the Lakota. The Nakota are sometimes known by their autonym Nakoda. In scholarly and linguistic contexts, Nakota refers both to the people and to a branch of Sioux languages that includes Assiniboine and Nakoda (Stoney) varieties.

Geography and groups: Historically, Nakota communities inhabited the northern Great Plains, in what is now eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada and Montana and North Dakota in the United States. The best-known Nakota groups are the Assiniboine and the Nakoda (Stoney) peoples. In Canada, Assiniboine communities are concentrated in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while the Stoney (Nakoda) Nation is based in Alberta. In the United States, Assiniboine communities exist in Montana and North Dakota.

Language: The Nakota languages form a branch of the Siouan language family. The principal languages are Assiniboine and Nakoda (Stoney). They are related but distinct varieties, and both are the focus of ongoing language preservation and revitalization efforts.

History and culture: Traditional Nakota society emphasized flexible band structures, bison hunting on the plains, and extensive trade networks with neighboring tribes and European traders. Like other Sioux groups, Nakota communities experienced displacement and treaty-era relocations in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, Nakota communities maintain cultural practices such as ceremonies, beadwork, dance, and language programs, blending traditional and contemporary ways of life while sustaining their heritage.