The Dakota and Ojibwa Indians both occupied the state of Minnesota. A border was established between the two groups in order to prevent constant battles and arguments. The line was drawn to split the state making a northern section in which the Ojibway Indians lived and the southern half was home to the Dakota Indians. Although these two cultures could not live together in peace they did have many similarities as well as many differences.
The Dakota Indians lived in a mobile lifestyle taking there belongings and home with them. The Dakota lived in teepees throughout the summer as they followed the herds of buffalo. The teepees were made of many poles tied together at the top and then covered with Buffalo hides. A typical teepee needed sixteen to eighteen buffalo hides to cover the entire thing. They would hunt all summer to prepare for the long cold winters. After the summer became fall they began to settle in their sod homes which were logs piled up and then buried beneath the soil. .
The Dakota clothing was similar to the Ojibway, both wore moccasins made of hides but they also had their own styles and designs. Both wore deer hides on their legs in the winter to keep warm. In order to stay warm both the Ojibway and the Dakota wore buffalo robes during the winter. During the warmer months of summer both wore breech clothes to stay cool.
Both the Dakota and the Ojibway ate wild rice, deer, fish, and plants such as corn. The Dakota ate things such as buffalo tounges and turnips. The Dakota traveled with the buffalo making that a more common food in their culture. The Ojibway mainly ate deer and plants like squash, pumpkins, and potatoes more often.
Both the Dakota and Ojibway usually sat down once a day and feasted rather than eating three times a day. Although the children were spoiled and were given the opportunity to eat whenever they wanted. Pots of soup were left cooking all day for the children to eat.