What do you think America was like prior to Columbus's supposed discovery? Do you imagine that this land was filled with trees, abundant wildlife, and totally uninhabited by people? It is true there were millions of trees and abundant wildlife, but it is a fallacy to think and teach about this land being uninhabited by civilized people. There were hundreds perhaps thousands of civilizations that existed prior to European discovery, and each civilization had within it, it's own culture. Each culture had its language, religion, food, ceremony, government, economics and agriculture. They were not uncivilized savages, rather they were civilized cultures that existed for thousands of years.

No civilization can exist without one key aspect of culture, and that is food. Upon this land mass were tribes and clans that hunted and gathered, and tribes that grew their own crops and also hunted. Hunters are nomadic, while agriculturalists are sedentary. Agriculture as part of culture and geography is the focus of this reading. Specifically, this reading will deal with the three agricultural tribes of the Dakota Territory. These tribes are the Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara.

When you think of the wild west do you think of the cowboy versus the Indian? Did you know war was only a small part of Native American life on the plains? North and South Dakota have a rich and extensive agricultural history that began long before the 1800s. It began with the Mandans, Hidatsas, and Arikaras who lived here for hundreds of years. These were tribes that lived on the banks of the Missouri River. Each tribe had its own language, religion, methods of food preparation, and customs. These cultures did share one common cultural trait and that was agriculture.

Agriculture for these unique people was a religious-cultural trait. It was and still is believed that Mother Earth provided the necessities for life. These tribes lived in harmony with everything around them. What they were given, they gave back. They sang, prayed and danced for Mother Earth to provide what they needed. Rather than seeking profit these cultures relied on subsistence for life.

The Mandans, Hidatsas and Arikaras were expert farmers. Stop! When you think of a farmer you have the image of a man working the fields, don't you? It is the women who have the duty to plant, care and harvest their families crops. They did this duty with the utmost of respect from the men too. Each member within the tribe, men and women, boys and girls had a role and they took on this role with no complaints.

The tribes had no calendar, so how did they know when to plant the fields? They watched the seasons change, and when the weather began to change in the spring they tested the soil moisture by sticking one knuckle in the ground. If the knuckle went one deep it was time to prepare the fields for planting. They also were aware of the migratory habits of the wild animals, so when an animal like the goose returned the women knew it was about time to prepare the fields for planting.

Preparing the fields for planting was not easy. Often they cut down trees to access a new plot of land. They knew better than to use the same plot of land year after year, because it would not produce the same rich crops as the last year had. Near the river they burned the ground, but prairie fires were rare. They broke the ground with a digging stick, and tilled the ground with hoes. Their hoes were made from a strong stick made of ash wood and the scapula of a buffalo. Hoeing was back breaking work.

The planting of crops was never taken for granted. Each year the same traditions were practiced. Men were not allowed in the fields unless they were visiting the women of their family. The women often sang to their crops. Yes, they sang to the crops. Recent scientific studies confirm this ancient tradition was a necessity for healthy crops. Two fields of crops were planted. In crop A, speakers were set in the field, they played mostly harsh jarring rythms, and in crop B the speakers played mostly soothing, soft music. The results were that in crop A the plants grew away from the speakers and were stunted in growth. In crop B the plants leaned towards the speakers and grew healthy and strong. This singing practice was a necessity for healthy crops.

What kind of crops did the Mandans, Hidatsas, and Arikaras plant? Think about what food items you may be able to find in your home, grocery store, or garden. These tribes planted maize (corn), squash, sunflowers, beans, and tobacco. Corn was a staple food item in many Native American diets. They produced nine different types of corn, some of the most common being; hard white, soft white, and hard yellow. Beans were grown in between each row of corn, because what one took from the other the other put back into the soil. These two crops relied on each other for survival. Beans also came in different varieties, but black beans were the best. Squash came in many different shapes, and was often dried after the harvest. Sunflowers were strategically placed at the perimeter of the families plot of land, so they would add beauty to the garden. Sunflowers were also a staple in their diet.

The last crop they planted was tobacco, but this was the job of the older men of the tribe. This crop is sacred to most of the Native American tribes. It was used for smoking, but its main purpose was for ceremonial, spiritual use. The younger men were discouraged from smoking for pleasure because it was known to slow men down. The young men needed their swiftness and endurance in war time.

The Mandans, Hidatsas and Arikaras were the first to use many of the farming techniques we use today. They planted, harvested and threshed their crops. They also used techniques for keeping crows and other birds out of the fields. Of course they used the scarecrow, but what was most commonly used was a stage that was erected in the middle of the families fields. Little girls and mothers would sit on the stage for hours just to prevent the crows from feeding on the corn. When a crow would approach the girls would scream at the crows or throw rocks at them. This may sound boring, but this was a time for story telling and singing. Another farming technique used was a kind of fertilization and pest control. To keep their tools in good condition they were lubricated with bear grease. This gave off a distinct odor but also worked to keep weeds and bugs away from the crops. The bear grease also provided vital nutrients for the growing crops.

It is hoped that this reading will correct many misconceptions about the status of American civilization prior to European contact. Unlike what many of us have been taught, the tribes that thrived on this continent prior to Columbus were not uncivilized savages, they were civilized, peaceful people who displayed almost every aspect of culture. Investigating other aspects of culture may break down walls of misconceptions and superior attitudes. It is hoped that you will take it upon yourself to investigate these other realms of Native American culture so that we can break down the wall of indifference in our next generation of leaders.

Comments or questions, please e-mail us at:sdsu_agmuseum@sdstate.edu