Spirit Mound Township near Vermillion in Clay County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People

— Missouri National Recreational River —

<i>Canotina Paha</i> | Mountain of Little People Marker image. Click for full size.

April 15, 2023

1. Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People Marker

Inscription.
Spirit Mound was a sacred place to area tribes long before the first settlers arrived here from the east. To the Yankton Sioux, Omaha, Otoes, and other tribes, this was the "mountain of little people."

Indians believed it was "bad medicine" to see the Can O' ti la, or "little people." A person who encountered one of them or was wounded by their arrows necessarily consulted a spiritual healer. If the person ignored this warning, he or she would face a serious problem or even death.

Captions:
Wahktägeli, Yankton Sioux chief, wearing a Presidential Medal, 1833, painting by Karl Bodmer
A Sioux camp near Yankton

Erected by Spirit Mound Trust, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.

Location. 42° 52.17′ N, 96° 57.416′ W. Marker is near Vermillion, South Dakota, in Clay County. It is in Spirit Mound Township. Marker is on State Highway 19 north of 312th Street, on the left when traveling south. Located along the trail at Spirit Mound Historic Prairie. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31148 SD-19, Vermillion SD 57069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Daughters of the American Revolution Spirit Mound Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Spirit Mound Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Hill of Little Spirits (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Lewis and Clark to the Future (about 700 feet away); Spirit Mound (about 700 feet away); Lewis and Clark Were Here...and Here... (about 800 feet away); Lewis and Clark Visit Spirit Mound (about 800 feet away); Hill of Chalk (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vermillion.

Additional keywords. Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People | Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People

April 15, 2023

2. Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People Marker

Spirit Mound can be seen in the background.

April 15, 2023

3. Canotina Paha | Mountain of Little People Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2023. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2023.