 The two main Native American tribal groups which dominated Minnesota at the time the lands were acquired by the United States were the more established Dakota Sioux , and the Ojibwe who had migrated into the area more recently . The two groups fought bitter territorial wars during the 18th century . In the mid @-@ 18th century the Battle of Kathio , in which the Ojibwe defeated the Sioux , permanently established northeastern Minnesota , particularly Mille Lacs Lake , as Ojibwe territory relegating the Sioux to southern and western Minnesota . Skirmishes between the groups continued in the 19th century including a battle near Lac Traverse in 1818 , a battle near Stillwater in 1839 ( the site became known as " Battle Hollow " ) , and another on the Yellow Medicine River in 1854 . 
 The two main Native American tribal groups which dominated Minnesota at the time the lands <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> acquired by the United States <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> the more established Dakota Sioux , and the Ojibwe <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> migrated into the area more recently . The two groups fought bitter territorial wars during the 18th century . In the mid @-@ 18th century the Battle of Kathio , in which the Ojibwe defeated the Sioux , permanently established northeastern Minnesota , particularly Mille Lacs Lake , as Ojibwe territory relegating the Sioux to southern and western Minnesota . Skirmishes between the groups continued in the 19th century including a battle near Lac Traverse in 1818 , a battle near Stillwater in 1839 ( the site became known as " Battle Hollow " ) , and another on the Yellow Medicine River in 1854 . 
Da two main Native American tribal groups which dominated Minnesota at the time the lands was acquired by the United States was the more established Dakota Sioux , and tdaOjibwe done migrated into the area more recently . The 2 groups fought bitter territorial wars during thda8th century . In thedad @-@ 18th century the Battle of Kathio , in which the Ojibwe defeated the Sioux , permanently established northeastern Minnesota , particularly Mille Lacs Lake , as Ojibwe territory relegating the Sioux to southern and western Minnesota . Skirmishes between the groups continued in the 19th century including a battle near Lac Traverse in 1818 , a battle near Stillwater in 1839 ( the dae became known as " Battle Hollow " ) , and another on the Yellow Medicine River in 1854 .