is for Arikara

The Arikara tribe entered North Dakota in about 1825. They settled near the Mandan and Hidatsa people and combined together to form the Three Affiliated Tribes. The Arikara are also called, "Sahnish."

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Bison

Bison are known as "a walking department store" because they provide the Plains Indians with many items. Items such as food, shelter, clothing, weapons, tools, and musical instruments.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Chippewa

The Chippewa people, also called Ojibwa, came from the forests of Wisconsin and Minnesota. They mostly lived in wigwams. During the summers, when they were hunting bison, they lived in tipis.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Devils Lake

Devils Lake is the largest natural body of water in North Dakota. It is the northern border to the Spirit Lake Nation Reservation. The Dakota name for the lake is, "Spirit Lake."

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Earthlodge

Earthlodges are dome-shaped homes that were made of logs and covered with willow branches, grass, and earth. The women in the tribes built, owned, and took care of these homes. They were used by Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara people.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Four Bears Bridge

Four Bears Bridge crosses Lake Sakakawea at New Town, on the north side of the reservation. It is named after a Mandan chief and Hidatsa chief, both named "Four Bears." It is the largest bridge project in North Dakota and it was completed in 2005.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Garrison Dam

Garrison Dam is a wall, built on the Missouri River, that blocks the flow of water to control flooding. The building of the dam forced members of Three Affiliated Tribes to move away from land where their ancestors had lived for hundreds of years.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Hidatsa

The Hidatsa tribe migrated from the forests of Minnesota, into eastern North Dakota over 500 years ago. They continued to journey west and settled in an area close to the Mandan people, along the Missouri and Heart Rivers, over 400 years ago. The Hidatsa tribe is part of the Three Affilliated Tribes.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Immunity

Immunity is the protection from diseases. The natives of North America had no natural immunity from illnesses such as smallpox, measles, or typhoid fever.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Jewelry

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

Jewelry making is a craftsmanship that tribes have passed down from generation to generation. Early on, beads were made from carved wood, animal bones, claws, and teeth. These beads were sewn onto clothing or strung into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings.

is for Keith Bear

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

Keith Bear is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes, known globally as a flute player. He uses his flute to tell stories. He believes flute music is the wind that breathes life into the heart.

is for Lake Sakakawea

Lake Sakakawea is the largest body of water in North Dakota. It is the third largest man-made lake in the United States. The lake is named after Sakakawea, the Shoshoni woman, who helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific coast and back.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Mandan

The Mandan were the first Plains Village group to become a modern Indian tribe in North Dakota. They settled along the Missouri River in North Dakota over 900 years ago. The Mandan tribe is part of the Three Affiliated Tribes.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

is for Natives

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

In the 1970s, the government, and other groups, began calling the American Indians, "Native Americans." Natives are people born in a certain place or country. If "Native" is capitalized, it refers to American Indians.

is for Oyate Tribe

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)

The Oyate Tribe, known as the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, is located in the southeast corner of North Dakota. It is not considered a North Dakota reservation.

is for Powwow

A powwow is an American Indian gathering for dancing, singing, and getting together with friends. Songs sung at a powwow are traditional and have been passed down through generations. A drum is the basic instrument used at the powwow and it is a symbol for the heartbeat of the universe.

Herman G. and Johnson, L. (2012)