"Tchankasndata Wakpa" The name the Native American’s gave to The Falls of the Big Sioux River, they were carved in the hard Sioux Quartzite metamorphic rock near the end of the Wisconsin Ice age, 14,000 years ago. The City of Sioux Falls is defined by this geographical feature, and was a gathering place long before the white man arrived. This is the story about those who saw the potential of the power of the river and helped give birth to the modern day city of Sioux Falls, SD. There are many who say the history of a place is what defines the community, these pages will allow one to explore some of that history.