The name Sioux comes from "Nadowe Su" which is Algonquin meaning "Little Rattle." The story passed down is that it comes from the rattling sound a snake makes before it bites. French traders and trappers changed the spelling from "Su" to "Sioux" and dropped the Nadowe.
The language of the Sioux has three dialects: Lakota, Dakota and Nakota. These dialects developed because the Sioux were spread out over a vast plains region of North America. Today, Lakota and Dakota are the two main dialects, with the Nakota dialect almost out of use because it has not been taught to children. Speakers of the dialects have no difficulty understanding one another.
The name Lakota means allies, friends or those who are united. Dakota comes from the word "Da" meaning "considered" and "Koda" or "friend." The idea of Oyate also includes animals and all things and objects. For example, bears are called the Mato Oyate, or Bear People, and eagles the Wanbli Oyate, Eagle People.
Most Sioux live on nine reservations in South and North Dakota and Nebraska. There are also Sioux reservations in Montana, Minnesota and Canada. As a result of the Indian Reorganization Act, about one-third of the total Indian population live off reservations in urban areas.