Mni Wakan Oyate | |
---|---|
Total population | |
7,256 enrolled members[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
United States ( North Dakota) | |
Languages | |
English, Dakota | |
Religion | |
Christianity (incl. syncretistic forms), Midewiwin | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Assiniboine, Stoney (Nakoda), and other Siouan peoples |
The Spirit Lake Tribe (in Santee Dakota: Mniwakaƞ Oyate,[2] also spelt as Mni Wakan Oyate, formerly known as Devils Lake Sioux Tribe) is a federally recognized tribe based on the Spirit Lake Dakota Reservation located in east-central North Dakota on the southern shores of Devils Lake. It is made up of people of the Pabaksa (Iháŋkthuŋwaŋna), Sisseton (Sisíthuŋwaŋ) and Wahpeton (Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ) bands of the Dakota tribe.[3] Established in 1867 in a treaty between Sisseton-Wahpeton Bands and the United States government, the reservation, at 47°54′38″N 98°53′01″W / 47.91056°N 98.88361°W, consists of 1,283.777 square kilometres (495.669 sq mi) of land area, primarily in Benson and Eddy counties. Smaller areas extend into Ramsey, Wells and Nelson counties.
According to the tribal enrollment office in 2014, the tribe had 7,256 enrolled members.[1] At the time of the U.S. 2010 census, 3,587 members out of a total of 4,238 people (including non-tribal members) were residing on the reservation. The unemployment rate was 47.3% in 2000. The largest community on the reservation is Fort Totten.