Like-a-Fishhook Village

Like-a-Fishhook Village was a Native American settlement next to Fort Berthold in North Dakota, established by dissident bands of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Formed in 1845, it was also eventually inhabited by non-Indian traders, and became important in the trade between Natives and non-Natives in the region. The site was lost when the construction of Garrison Dam flooded the area to create Lake Sakakawea in 1954.

About Like-a-Fishhook Village in brief

Summary Like-a-Fishhook VillageLike-a-Fishhook Village was a Native American settlement next to Fort Berthold in North Dakota, established by dissident bands of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Formed in 1845, it was also eventually inhabited by non-Indian traders, and became important in the trade between Natives and non-Natives in the region. The village, consisting of earthen lodges and log cabins, was abandoned in the mid-1880s. The site was lost when the construction of Garrison Dam flooded the area to create Lake Sakakawea in 1954. The village was founded eight years after a disastrous epidemic of smallpox in 1837. The new village consisted of roughly 70 earth lodges, with the homes of leading men facing the plaza. Drying frames for produce from the gardens were visible, Hidden ground were caches for storing the harvest of the summer. The caches could be dug inside the lodge as well as outside.

The Hidatsa would from time to time rent the lodge for ceremonies of their own. Occupied by the Mandan and the Hidat’s, Like-A-Fish hook Village held more people than any of the nearest white towns. A young fur trader noted how the Four Bears’ panes of glass were in better part of the village than those of any other white trader in the Upper Upper Missouri. The Mandan had their sacred cedar in the center of the plaza, and made a ceremonial lodge next to the plaza and used both during ceremonies like the Okipa. In addition to ceremonial leader Missouri River and war leader Four Bears, four \”Protectors of the People\” were chosen. Each selected a place for their earth lodge so there would be a powerful protector in each quarter of theVillage. Big Cloud protected the east, while the west would be guarded by Bobtail Bull.