Seven Sioux tribes formed an alliance, which they called "Oceti Sakowin" or "Očhéthi Šakówiŋ" ("The Seven Council Fires"), consisting of the four tribes of the Eastern Dakota, two tribes of the Western Dakota (erroneously classified, for a very long time, as "Nakota"), as well as the largest group, the Lakota (often referred to as Teton, derived from "Thítȟuŋwaŋ" – "Dwellers of the Plains"). Tradition has it that the Mdewakanton were the leading tribe of "Očhéthi Šakówiŋ." As a consequence of their defeat by the United States in the Dakota War of 1862 and heavy losses in warriors, they lost their leading position within the Council Fires to the more numerous and powerful Lakota.