North Dakota, home to 30,000 Native Americans and five tribal nations, offers year-round cultural experiences, including powwows, Indian Horse Relays, and visits to museums and historic sites, especially in late summer and early fall.

June 28, 2024

Explore Authentic Native American Culture in North Dakota This Summer

North Dakota, home to 30,000 Native Americans and five tribal nations, offers year-round cultural experiences, including powwows, Indian Horse Relays, and visits to museums and historic sites, especially in late summer and early fall.

North Dakota, home to approximately 30,000 Native American residents and five tribal nations, offers numerous opportunities to experience Indigenous cultures throughout the year.

Visitors are welcome to explore authentic Native American cultural events, museums, and historic sites, particularly during the late summer and early fall.

Attend a Powwow

Powwows are multi-day festivals featuring song and dance performances, traditional foods, and vendors selling arts and crafts. Upcoming powwows in North Dakota include:

July 4-6: Turtle Mountain Chief Little Shell, Dunseith – Celebrating the heritage of the Pembina Band of Chippewa.
July 12-14: Arikara Celebration, White Shield – Honoring the historical relationship between the Arikara and Pawnee tribes.
July 19-21: Mandaree Celebration Powwow, Mandaree – Featuring song and drum competitions, dance specials, and various food vendors.
July 26-28: Fort Totten Days Celebration, Fort Totten – Showcasing dancers of all ages, a 5K fun run, moccasin games, singing contest, and horseshoe doubles competition.
August 8: Battle of the Great Plains — Chicken Dance, New Town – Highlighting the intricate chicken dance by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribes.
August 9-11: Little Shell Celebration/Antelope Society, New Town – The second-largest powwow in North Dakota with numerous dance specials.
August 30-Sept. 1: Turtle Mountain Labor Day Powwow, Belcourt – A unique combination of competition and traditional powwow.
September 6-8: United Tribes International Powwow, Bismarck – One of the largest and most prestigious powwows in the nation.

A full guide to North Dakota powwows is available here.

Experience the Thrill of an Indian Horse Relay

The Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Tourism Indian Horse Relay returns on July 23, 2024, at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot. This intense race features Native American athletes demonstrating incredible coordination and athleticism. Intermissions are filled with traditional dances, enriching the atmosphere with cultural heritage.

Tour Historic Sites and Museums

Explore North Dakota’s rich Native American history through numerous sites and museums:

Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center, Belcourt: Preserves the culture of the Chippewa, Cree, and Métis peoples.
Fort Totten State Historic Site, Devils Lake: Offers insights into the history of the Spirit Lake Nation.
North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, Bismarck: Home to a vast collection of Plains Indian artifacts and the Native American Hall of Honors.
Double Ditch Indian Village, near Bismarck: Features the remains of a large Mandan Indian Earth Lodge Village.
Chief Looking’s Village, Huff Indian Village, Sitting Bull Visitor Center, and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site: Provide authentic glimpses into the lives of Plains Indians.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, near Mandan: Includes On‐A‐Slant Indian Village with reconstructed earthlodges.
Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway: A 350-mile route tracing the path of Lewis and Clark along the Missouri River.