Arikara people
An Arikara warrior, ca. 1840–1843, by Karl Bodmer
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|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 792 (2010 census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 North Dakota
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|
| Languages | |
| English, Arikara | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Native American Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Caddo, Kichai, Pawnee and Wichita |
Arikara (English pronunciation: /əˈrɪkərə/), also known as Sahnish,Arikaree or Ree, are a tribe of Native Americans in North Dakota. Today they are enrolled with the Mandan and the Hidatsa as the federally recognized tribe known as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.
The Arikara's name is believed to mean "horns," in reference to the ancient custom of wearing two upright bones in their hair. The name also could mean "elk people" or "corn eaters."
The Arikara language is a member of the Caddoan language family. Arikara is close to the Pawnee language, but they are not mutually intelligible. As of 2007, the total number of remaining native speakers was reported as ten, one of whom, Maude Starr, died on 20 January 2010. She was a certified language teacher who participated in Arikara language education programs.
Linguistic divergence between Arikara and Pawnee suggests a separation from the Skidi Pawnee in about the 15th century. The Arzberger Site near present-day Pierre, South Dakota, designated as a National Historic Landmark, is an archeological site from this period, containing the remains of a fortified village with more than 44 lodges.
An Arikara village, near where present-day Pierre, South Dakota developed, was visited in 1743 by two sons of the French trader and explorer La Vérendrye.
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