Native American Culture in North Dakota
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NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE IN NORTH DAKOTA Tribal nations are an essential part of North Dakota’s history. All are welcome to explore the reservations and experience Native American culture by learning about each tribe’s history, language and traditions while visiting attractions like reconstructed earthlodge villages. Attend a powwow and celebrate the culture through song Knife River Indian Double Ditch Indian Village and dance. There are approximately 30,000 Native Americans living in North Villages National Dakota. Though the individual tribes Historic Site: have distinct and different origins, Tribes from across histories and languages, Plains Indians the Northern Plains are united by core beliefs and values journeyed to these that emanate from respect for the earth permanent villages and an understanding of humankind’s relationship with nature. to trade, socialize and make war for Chippewa Downs The tribes with the most influence on more than 11,000 today’s North Dakota are the Mandan, years. Hidatsa and Arikara; the Yanktonai, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa and other Dakota/Lakota/Nakota (commonly known as the Sioux) tribes; and the Chippewa and Metis. Visitors are welcome to explore the reservations and discover the beauty of Native American culture. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site: Standing Rock Monument This was the principal fur trading post of the American Fur Company and between 1828 and 1867, the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River. MHA Nation Interpretive Center Day 1 Morning — Fort Yates The Standing Rock: Held sacred, the story tells of a woman and her child turned into stone. Sitting Bull Burial Site: The original gravesite of the Hunkpapa Lakota leader. Sitting Bull played a prominent role in the shaping of the American West, notably defeating Custer in 1876. Afternoon — Bismarck-Mandan Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park: Home to many historic attractions, including On-A- Slant Indian Village, a 400-year-old Mandan Day 4 Turtle Mountain Heritage Center: This new museum Village that thrived for more than 200 New Town next to Sky Dancer Casino years. Tour five reconstructed earthlodges, Four Bears Bridge: The bridge showcases the heritage and the Custer House, granary, commissary is a unique structure that bares history of the Turtle Mountain storehouse, barracks and stables. aesthetic features selected by Band of Chippewa. and representing the Mandan, Day 2 Hidatsa and Arikara tribes. Chippewa Downs: Horse track Bismarck-Mandan Crow Flies High Observation with races on four weekends North Dakota Heritage Center and State Point: Take in the breathtaking in the summer. Museum: The Innovation Gallery: Early view of Lake Sakakawea, the Peoples, uses more than 1,000 artifacts to bluffs in the Badlands and the Day 6 tell the story of early life on the Northern foundations of the underwater Fort Totten Plains. Be sure to visit the exquisite 6-foot town of Sanish. Devils Lake: This great by 20-foot hand-painted panoramic mural fishing destination derives of Double Ditch Indian Village in 1550. Old Scouts Cemetery: Pay tribute its name from the Native to Native Americans who served American word Miniwaukan. Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic their country in times of war and Early explorers incorrectly Site: This site contains ruins of a large peace, including the Arikara/ translated the word to mean Mandan Indian earthlodge village Sanish warriors who served as “Bad Spirit.” Supported by the believed to have once been inhabited for scouts for Custer in the Battle of many legends of drowned nearly 300 years until 1781. the Little Big Horn. warriors and lake monsters, MHA Nation Interpretive Center: the name evolved into Devils Day 3 Discover the culture, oral Lake. Washburn and Stanton tradition and history of the MHA The Lewis And Clark Interpretive Center Nation with museum-quality Fort Totten State Historical and Fort Mandan: The world-class displays, living history programs, Site: Constructed as a military interpretive center showcases the journey culture educational classes and post, it became an Indian of the Corps of Discovery. Fort Mandan is more. boarding school, Indian a replica of the winter home used in Lewis health care facility and a and Clark’s famous expedition. The site Day 5 reservation school. This was near the Mandan Villages where the site stands much as it once Belcourt/Dunseith area did, housing an interpretive expedition traded goods for survival and Turtle Mountain Scenic knowledge in 1804-05. center, museum and historic Byway: Take a hike in the inn. wooded, rolling hills of the Knife River Indian Villages National Turtle Mountains; play in White Horse Hill National Historic Site: The ruins of this ancient Lake Metigoshe or take a Indian village were last occupied in Game Preserve: 1,674-acre stroll through the 2,339-acre national wildlife refuge on the 1845 by the Hidatsa and Mandan, and International Peace Garden. is the site where Lewis and Clark met south shore of Devils Lake. Sakakawea in 1804. The site now has a modern museum, visitor center, Hidatsa earthlodge and the remains of three Hidatsa villages with 210 depressions..