 According to Dakota tradition, their ancestors pushed out the Iowa who were found settled at the mouth of the Minnesota River.In 1680, the Mdewakanton Dakota were contacted by French explorer Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, and the Mendota ("mdo-TE") band of the Mdewakanton south of the Minnesota River were contacted by Joseph Nicollet in the 18th century.While Taoyateduta (a.k.a.