A guided tour of Glacier National Park, Montana, from the Blackfeet perspective is the best way to explore their ancestral home. As buffaloes neared extinction, the Blackfeet transitioned from hunting to farming and ranching, and today a population of almost 10,000 lives on in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Blackfeet, or Blackfoot, are a nation divided into three bands - the Piegan, the Blood and the Siksika - and are thought to have begun as buffalo hunters in the early 1700s. This sacred geological feature is central to the origin story of the Nez Perce peoples and offers audio guides to learn about the legend of the 'Coyote and the Monster.' Another great way to learn about the tribe is to take a jet boat tour with Nez Perce Tourism along the Snake River to Buffalo Eddy, which is home to clusters of captivating petroglyphs that depict images of bison, sheep and deer thought to date back 4,500 years.ĭon't miss: For an alternative taste of Native American tradition, tie in a stay at the Coeur d’Alene Casino and Resort in Worley, Idaho, where you can embrace the heritage of the Coeur d’Alene tribe through hand-crafting workshops, evening entertainment and guided nature hikes that weave through ancestral lands. There's also the chance to learn about the tribe's reputation for salmon fishing in the streams around the villages, and how - after acquiring horses in the 18th century - they established one of the largest horse herds on the continent (the Nez Perce created the Appaloosa breed and hunted bison with this newfound mode of transport).įrom the Visitor Center, head approximately 55 miles east peeling off Highway 12 to reach the historic Heart of the Monster, a site lodged within the beautiful Clearwater River valley, near the town of Kamiah. The Nez Perce National Historical Park in Spalding, Idaho, which comprises 38 separate sites, is the best place to delve into the ancient roots of their unique customs. Start at the National Historic Museum and Visitor Center to view impressive artwork and artifacts and gain an understanding of the park’s extensive layout. Although they call themselves Nimi’ipuu (meaning ‘we, the people’), the tribe are commonly known as the ‘pierced noses’ - a name given to them by French Canadian fur traders, despite having never practised nose-piercing. Once the largest and most powerful Sahaptin-speaking tribes, the Nez Perce have a rich and fascinating history. Afterwards, spend an evening at the Medora Musical and Pitchfork Steak Fondue - a Broadway-style variety show with delicious western food. Learn about the military barracks that once stood here, as well as visiting reconstructed earth lodges, hiking, horse-riding and even camping in a tipi.ĭon't miss: The Old West cowboy town of Medora, North Dakota, which offers action-packed adventures such as trail rides, mountain biking and hiking in the rugged Theodore Roosevelt National Park. While here, join a self-guided tour to learn the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including the time they spent with the Mandan peoples.Īfterwards, a visit to the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, North Dakota, is a great way to experience traditional Mandan life. To discover their story, visit the newly opened MHA Interpretive Center in New Town, North Dakota, which offers living history programmes, educational classes and even traditionally prepared meals. Meanwhile, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn, North Dakota, depicts the fascinating heritage of the Northern Plains - home of the MHA Nation - with engaging exhibits and world-class art collections. While the three separate tribes each have their own customs and traditions, it's believed they came together to help protect each other against the smallpox epidemic. In 1862, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples joined together to create an affiliated tribe, known as the MHA Nation, in the Missouri River area of North Dakota. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples in North Dakota
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