Dakota doesn't mean "friend". It actually means "the allies" in the Dakota language, and it is a plural noun. Read here for more information - http://www.native-languages.org/wrongnames.htm.
― Anonymous User 8/20/2009
0
This isn't really a Native American name, it's a word which refers to their allies - and using it as a proper name is quite ignorant and insulting. http://www.native-languages.org/wrongnames.htm
― Anonymous User 11/7/2007
2
Dakota, Lakota and Nakota are "branches" of the Sioux tribe. Then, there are several "side branches", like Oglala and Yanktonai.