The People
Picture Captions: The Mandan Indian Nation
This photograph shows a newly constructed earth lodge. The construction of an earth lodge was not an individual responsibility, but rather a community task, in sense that an individual who wanted to build a new lodge could depend on other members of the tribe for assistance. The platform seen here was used for storage. It was raised off the ground to keep items out of reach of animals and children.
Entrance to a Mandan earth lodge. The lodges were constructed and owned by the women in the tribe and normally housed up to ten members of an extended family.
“On-A-Slant” village near Fort Abraham
Lincoln, North Dakota.
Another view of the “On-A-Slant” village.
Side view of an earth lodge.
This wooden palisade was built to keep out other Indian tribes, primarily the Sioux, who frequently raided Mandan villages.
Looking from the palisade wall toward the river.
Model showing “On-A-Slant” as it was seen in the mid-17th Century. The lodges are much more numerous and spaced much closer together than a visitor to the present day site might realize.
Painting depicting the interior view of an earth lodge.
Another view of the interior construction of an earth lodge.
