They had lived along the Knife River for more than 200 years when the first French merchants arrived in their village in 1738. They harvest the bounty provided by the river as it cuts through the grasslands. And the rich land they found allowed them to adopt agriculture and build permanent villages. The earliest people to visit here were nomads, who crossed as they hunted.Įventually, the hunter-gatherers followed. The riverbanks also provide berries, nuts, and cover for the game. Long before Europeans reached the Americas, the Upper Missouri River and its tributaries functioned as a highway connecting the natives. And archaeologists believe the area has been occupied for over 11,000 years! At one point, nearly 400 people called this place home. This quiet location along the river Knife, surrounded by farmland as far as you can see, has not always been so quiet. The History of the Indian Villages on the River Knife