Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation (Sisíthuŋwaŋ Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ oyáte), formerly Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe/Dakota Nation, is a federally recognized tribe comprising two bands and two subdivisions of the Isanti or Santee Dakota people. They are on the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeast South Dakota.

The Lake Traverse Reservation and its boundaries were established by the Lake Traverse Treaty of 1867. From 1884 until 1913, the tribal government was based upon the concept of the Soldier's Lodge. Due to external pressures from federal Indian agents and religious missionaries, as well as internal turmoil, in 1913, the tribe created an advisory committee. It served as the basis of government until 1946.

In 1934, the federal government urged the tribe to adopt the provisions of the Wheeler-Howard Act, also known as the Indian Reorganization Act. By 1946, the tribe had reorganized, establishing the current system of bylaws and elected tribal government at Agency Village. It gained self-government again as the federally recognized Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. The authority was based in the Lake Traverse Treaty of 1867.

From 1946 to 2002, the federally recognized tribe was known as the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. For a brief period in 1994, they identified as the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation. During their 2002 tribal general elections, they approved a measure changing the name to Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, the latter word in the Dakota language meaning "people or nation".

Location and Size: The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate have a small portion of their Lake Traverse Reservation in southeastern North Dakota, mainly in Richland County. The total reservation is around 1,095 square miles, but only a small fraction of that lies in North Dakota.

Population: Tribe has around 13,000+ enrolled members (as of recent estimates)

Languages: They speak English and the Dakota language, specifically the Sisseton and Wahpeton dialects of Eastern Dakota.

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (people) of the Lake Traverse Reservation shall be governed by a Council consisting of seven (7)  Councilmen and three (3) Officers. Except for the Officers, one Councilman shall be elected from each of the seven districts and shall possess the voting strength according to population. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and the Secretary shall each have one vote in Council Meetings. In meetings of the Council, the Chairman shall vote in case of a tie.

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation shall be governed by a Council consisting of seven (7) Councilmen, one shall be elected from each of the seven Districts, and shall possess the voting strength according to each District population.