History of the Mandan Indian Tribe Essay -- American History, native a

The Mandan are an indigenous tribe native to North America. The Mandan’s are known for being one of the earliest tribes to live on the great plains of the Midwest. Unlike other plains Indians the Mandan were a settled tribe who lived along the Big Bend of the Missouri River in what is now called North Dakota. While most tribes that lived in the plains were hunter/gatherers who lived a nomadic lifestyle following their food, the Mandan were planters living mostly off their crops. Warriors left once a year in hunting groups to go out into the plains in search for Buffalo, which was not only their major meat source, but was also used for clothing and shelter as well. Although the Mandan may differ from other Plains Indians in the fact that they live in a rooted community, they share many traditions with the neighboring tribes. They believe in a great spirit, they use medicine bundles, sacred pipes, have a sweat lodge and conduct many religious and spiritual ceremonies. The Mandan have a ceremony like no other recorded that is exclusive to their tribe called the Okipa or Okeepa. The Okipa is a four-day ceremony that is held annually in spring or summer. According to George Catlin, a painter, who spent time with the Mandan tribe in 1832, because the Mandan tribe had no official record or way to mark specific days, once the Willow leaves reached full size it was time for the ceremony. The purpose of the Okipa was to reaffirm the bond between the people and the natural world.(). More specifically the ceremony was held as a celebration of the Mee-nee-ro-ka-ha, it was for the dancing of the Bel-lohck-na-pic and for initiating young men into manhood. Mee-nee-ro-ka-ha translated means the sinking down of settling waters. One of the majo... ...hed the last race and made his way home the end of the ceremony may begin. The Okipa will enter the medicine lodge alone and will bring out with him all of the offerings Mohk-Muck-a-nah collected from the villagers on the first day. Then, along with the entire village he walks up to the top of a cliff and throws the tools into the water. The tools are offered as a sacrifice to the water, exactly at sun down on the fourth day, closing out the Okipa ceremony. In 1837 a smallpox epidemic almost completely wiped out the Mandan tribe leaving only 125 out if 1600 Mandan’s alive. In 1845 the surviving members of the Mandan tribe moved to Fort Berthold Reservation. The last Okipa ceremony was held in 1890, after that the army officer in charge of the Fort Berthold Reservation banned the ceremony and although it was lifted in 1934 the Okipa ceremony was never held again.