Bdote

Bdote is a Dakota word with many meanings. Generally, it means “where two waters come together.” But the bdote of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers is central to Dakota spirituality and history. Bdote is also used to refer sometimes to the wider area (now Minneapolis-St. Paul). We use the term Bdote area for the area surrounding the bdote of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Mendota, Minnesota is named after the Dakota word, ‘Bdote’ and the Dakota word for the region, ‘Mnisota.’ In the videos to the right, Chris Mato Nunpa, Phd., clearly translates and defines the word ‘Bdote.’ Dave Larsen, Dakota elder, describes the area as “where everything began and (where everything) began changing.” Other videos available were produced by youth. Also on the right sidebar find links to important information about Bdote. Visit the Google Map link to see satellite images, an interactive map of the area and links to information as offered by Google Search.