Assiniboin Indians
The Assiniboin Indians, derived from a Chippewa term meaning “one who cooks with stones,” belong to the Siouan linguistic family and are a branch of the Dakota. Historically, they inhabited the Saskatchewan and Assiniboin River valleys in Canada and the northern United States. Their significant history includes a separation from the Yanktonai band, shifting alliances with the Cree, and conflict with southern relatives. The population fluctuated due to factors like smallpox, with estimates ranging from 10,000 in 1780 to around 2,000 by the 1930s.