Stage 4: Building a Page Hierarchy

UNIT

STEP 1

The Heading Ladder

HTML has six heading levels. You've used <h1> and <h2> already. Each level gets progressively smaller and represents a lower level of importance.

<h1>Page Title — used ONCE per page

<h2>Major Section

<h3>Sub-section

<h4>Detail Heading

<h5>Fine detail

<h6>Smallest heading

🎯 The Golden Rule

Never skip heading levels. Always go h1 → h2 → h3 → h4 in order. Skipping levels confuses screen readers and search engines.

STEP 2

Add h3 Sub-headings for the Sioux and Dakota Nations

Let's add a new section that uses h3 to break the Sioux and Dakota cultural group into sub-topics.

👉 Add this AFTER your Quick Facts </ol>: <h2>About the Sioux and Dakota Nations</h2>

<h3>Their History</h3>
<p>The Spirit Lake Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are Dakota and Lakota peoples who have lived in the Northern Plains since time immemorial. Their ancestors were known for their deep connection to the land, the Missouri River, and the prairies of the region.</p>

<h3>Today</h3>
<p>Both nations continue to govern their own lands, practice their languages and ceremonies, and work to protect their treaty rights and sovereignty.</p>

STEP 3

Add h3 Sub-headings for the MHA Nation

The MHA Nation is unique — it represents three distinct peoples who have lived along the Missouri River for centuries. Let's give them their own section.

👉 Add this AFTER your Sioux/Dakota section: <h2>About the MHA Nation</h2>

<h3>Three Peoples, One Nation</h3>
<p>The Three Affiliated Tribes — Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara — are three distinct peoples united as the MHA Nation at Fort Berthold Reservation. The Mandan and Hidatsa are the ancient peoples of the Missouri River villages. The Arikara joined them after the devastating smallpox epidemics of the 18th and 19th centuries.</p>

<h3>Today</h3>
<p>The MHA Nation governs Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota. The nation operates its own government, schools, and cultural preservation programs.</p>

STEP 4

Go Deeper with h4

An <h4> goes inside an <h3> section. Let's spotlight the Turtle Mountain Band.

👉 Add this after your MHA Nation "Today" <p>: <h4>Spotlight: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa</h4>
<p>The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians are Anishinaabe (Ojibwe/Chippewa) people located in Rolette County in northern North Dakota. Turtle Mountain is also home to a significant Michif-speaking population — Michif is a unique language developed by the Metis people that blends Cree/Ojibwe and French. Turtle Mountain Community College, a Tribal college, has served students there since 1972.</p>

🌿 Tribal Sovereignty in Action

The Turtle Mountain Band operates its own government, courts, and educational institutions. Their Tribal college, Turtle Mountain Community College, is an important center of education and cultural preservation.

STEP 5

Your Page Hierarchy

Look at your page now. You have a complete hierarchy:

h1 - "North Dakota's 4 Tribal Nations" - the main title, used once.
h2 - "Sioux and Dakota Nations," "MHA Nation and Anishinaabe," "Quick Facts," "About..." - major chapters.
h3 - "Their History," "Today," "Three Peoples, One Nation" - sub-topics.
h4 - "Spotlight: Turtle Mountain Band" - a specific detail.

STEP 6

Challenge: Add Your Own h4

Research Spirit Lake Nation or Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and add an h4 spotlight under the Sioux and Dakota section. Some starting points:

Spirit Lake Nation - a Dakota nation with a rich tradition of arts, language revitalization, and education
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - became internationally known for water protection advocacy at Standing Rock

🌟 Stage 4 Complete!

You now understand HTML heading hierarchy. In Stage 5, we'll add links so your page can connect to the real websites of these Tribal nations!

Code Editor

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>North Dakota's Tribal Nations</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>North Dakota's 4 Tribal Nations</h1>

<h2>Sioux and Dakota Nations</h2>
    <p>Two sovereign Sioux and Dakota nations call North Dakota home.</p>
    <ul>
        <li>Spirit Lake Nation <ul><li>Ramsey, Benson & Nelson Counties</li></ul></li>
        <li>Standing Rock Sioux Tribe <ul><li>Sioux & Morton Counties</li></ul></li>
    </ul>

<h2>MHA Nation and Anishinaabe</h2>
    <p>North Dakota is also home to the Three Affiliated Tribes and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.</p>
    <ul>
        <li>Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation) <ul><li>Fort Berthold Reservation, Western ND</li></ul></li>
        <li>Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians <ul><li>Rolette County</li></ul></li>
    </ul>

<h2>Quick Facts</h2>
    <ol>
        <li>North Dakota has 4 federally recognized Tribal nations.</li>
        <li>ND nations represent Sioux, MHA, and Anishinaabe peoples.</li>
        <li>The MHA Nation includes Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples.</li>
        <li>Each nation is sovereign - they have their own government.</li>
    </ol>
</body>
</html>

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