North Dakota from the Great Lakes area. The word "Dakota" is a Sioux (Lakota/Dakota) word meaning "allies" or "friends". The primary historic tribal nations in or around North Dakota, are the Lakota and the Dakota ("The Great Sioux Nation" or "Oceti Sakowin," meaning the seven council fires), the Blackfoot, the Cheyenne, the Chippewa (known as Ojibwe in Canada), and the Mandan. The federally recognized tribes have Indian reservations in the state. Social gatherings are known as "powwows" (or wacipis in Lakota/Dakota) continue to be an important part of Native American culture and are held regularly throughout the state. Throughout Native American history,
Contemporary Native American issues in the United States Housing Authorities, with a block-grant program. It provides funds to be administered by the Tribes to develop their own housing. Native Americans are also commonly known as "Indians" or "American Indians". A 1995 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more Native Americans in the United States preferred "American Indian" to "Native American". Most American Indians are comfortable with "Indian", "American Indian", and "Native American", and the terms are often used interchangeably. They have also been known as "Aboriginal Americans, Amerindians, Amerinds, Colored, First Americans, Native Indians, Indigenous, Original Americans, Red Indians, Redskins" or "Red Men". The term "Native American" was