The word Dakota means united, confederated, or many in one, and designates the tribe from which the family takes its name. They seldom or never willingly acknowledge the title _Sioux_, first given them by the French, and now by all whites. There are many theories as to the origin of this latter name, the most acceptable of which is that it is a corruption of the word _Nadouessioux_--a general Chippewa designation for enemies--which was gradually applied by missionaries and traders, through an imperfect understanding of the language, to the tribes thus designated. Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota, thought that the word "originated upon the Upper Missouri, among the early French traders, hunters, and trappers, they deriving it, in all probability, from the name of a sub-band of the Ti-t'-wan (Teton), Dakotas, called _Sioune_, who hunted over the plains of that river, and with whom, consequently, they came most frequently in contact. "In Lewis and Clark's travels in 1803, they are called the _Teton Saone_, and their villages are located on the Missouri, near Cannonball River. "At least we find the term _Sioux_ first used in the early maps to designate a large tribe, with various subdivisions, upon the Upper Missouri only." Dakota traditions go back but a comparatively short time, and are vague and obscure in regard to their origin and early residence, which place it, however, in the Northwest, above the great lakes. In their progress eastward they early possessed themselves of the country about the headwaters of the Mississippi and the Red River of the North, where they remained as late as 1868, when they were in part dispossessed by the Chippewas, who were eventually the cause of their removal to the Missouri. Up to 1860, the Dakotas were divided into two principal divisions, those east of the Missouri, who were known as the Minnesota or Mississippi Dakotas, composed of four bands, viz: The M'dewakantons, or those of the Village of the Spirit Lake; the Wa-pe-kutes, or Leaf-Shooters; the Wahpetons, or Village in the Leaves; and the Sissetons, or those of the Village of the Marsh. Most of these have been long in contact with the whites, and, having disposed of the greater portion of their lands to the Government, have abandoned most of their old habits, and devote themselves to farming. Others of them, however, are restless and devoted to old prejudices, and cause much trouble to the settlers. The massacre of the whites in 1862 was inaugurated by the M'dewakantons, the Wahpetons and Sissetons afterwards joining them. Along the Missouri, but living mostly on its eastern side, were the Shauktonwans (Yanktons), or the People of Village at the End, inhabiting originally the Sioux, Desmoines, and Jacques Rivers, and living now principally about the mouth of the Vermillion.