Warm welcome by the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

From our headquarters in Dickinson we first visited New Town, homeland of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (personifications on the right photo) - the so-called "Three Affiliated Tribes". The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation is located on the Missouri River and consists of over 17,000 tribal members. We've been here before, during our Lewis & Clark-Trip in 2005 or 2006, for the Bicentennial Celebrations and a big powwow, and were back now to see the MHA Interpretive Center, a new Indian museum opened in 2021.

The expansive multipurpose facility - interesting architecture with the stunning backdrop of Lake Sakakawea - interprets the history and culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara people. The center shows interesting exhibits and living history programs to tell the story of the MHA Nation - the Nueta, Hidatsa and Sahnish people - with displays and relicts. Part of the center is the Mirishibisha (Black Water) Coffee Shop and the well-sorted Oak Tree Gift Shop.

 

We received the "royal treatment", arranged by the MHA Nation's tourism director Darian, first in the Interpretive Center (photos above) - a tour through the center and a delicious Indian meal - then outside, at the earthlodges adjacent to the museum (pics below) - the typical housing for these tribes in the old days - with a dance presentation.

 

 To our full surprise, we got very nice star blankets presented by a council woman! We drove over to the (old) museum closeby the casino, and, finally, to a scenic overlook with  views of Four Bears Bridge, Badlands bluffs and Lake Sakakawea (photo below). A place where soon a tribal park will be constructed.

In Dickinson itself we had a busy program as well: The Dickinson Museum Center offers the most interesting Badlands Dinosaur Museum. It features an exhibit of fossils and minerals, a public preparation lab, and a vibrant research and fieldwork program. It has the largest number of dinosaurs on display in North Dakota, including full skeletons of Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, Triceratops, Edmontosaurus, Albertosaurus, and Thescelosaurus. There is a new public-viewing laboratory and an exhibition exploring the evolution and function of eggs. It focuses on how new research is discovering how dinosaurs grew and the effects that change through growth had on their ecology and evolution.

Directly adjacent: the Joachim Regional History Museum (photo below) - interesting historical exhibits on the history of Southwestern North Dakota. And, there is the rather new Phat Fish Brewery in town, which we checked out as well.

Plus, lots of wide open ranchland, as at our friends' place, where we stayed overnight. Three days feeling "at home" at the ranch, no daily packing, regular meals, great steaks, good converation - what else could we wish?