The Sioux tribe is a tribe that is native to Asia. They constantly travel in the pattern of the buffalo, hoping that there will be food, water, and clothes along the way. When horses were introduced by the Spanish in the 1500's, their life became easier to travel. This tribe has chiefs to help protect their territories. Medicine men were used in this tribe to help or pray for the sick or wounded.
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The first Europeans to explore the South Dakota area were probably brothers Francios and Louis Josheph de La Verendrye. These French explorers traveled near what is now the city of Pierre in 1742. The area became part of a French territory called Louisiana, The Louisiana Purchase, transferred the region that is South Dakota to U.S. possession.
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In 1861 the U.S. Congress established the Dakota Territory made up of both North and South Dakota. The settlers discovered there were not many trees to build homes so they cut thick strips of sod out, stacked them like bricks, and built their houses out of it. These early shacks were called "soddies".
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Some people wanted all of Dakota Territory to become one big state. However, in 1889 North Dakota and South Dakota joined the United states as separate states. Today native issues are still important. In 1980 South Dakota's native people had a victory when the U.S. government illegally took the Sioux Black Hills land in 1876. The U.S. government had to pay 122.5 million for the land they took.
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