The story of the West is the tale of more than one people, and no visit to The Great American West would be complete without experiencing the culture and heritage of America’s native tribes.Journey through the heart of the Great Sioux Nation on South Dakota’s Native American Scenic Byway. Explore the ancient traditions of the Blackfeet tribe at Montana’s annual North American Indian Days. Attend an authentic Native American powwow in North Dakota’s capital of Bismarck.
Or immerse yourself in the customs of the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes at Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation.
South Dakota
To witness the power of a powwow or wacipi (Dakota, Lakota and Nakota for “dance” and pronounced wa-CHEE-pee) is to be part of a powerful tradition that existed long before white settlers set foot on this soil. It’s a social event where dancers don regalia that includes colorful finery, elaborate featherwork, and intricate beadwork as they perform dances that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Different tribes host powwows throughout the year, but the Black Hills Powwow—held annually in Rapid City—may be the biggest, drawing thousands of dancers and visitors every year. No matter which powwow you attend, you’ll feel the energy as dancers move gracefully to the rhythm provided by traditional drummers and singers. Should the spirits move you, the opportunity to join in the dancing will sometimes appear in the form of an intertribal dance. You can also delve deeper into the culture with foods like Indian tacos, fry bread, and a fruit sauce/ jam called wojapi (pronounced wo-zha-pee). Learn more on South Dakota powwows and proper visitor etiquette
Wyoming
Once home to more than a dozen Indian tribes, Wyoming today counts among its residents more than 11,000 Shoshone and Arapaho Indians who live on the Wind River Reservation. Located southeast of Jackson, the 2.2 million-acre reservation is the site of festive Indian powwows each summer. The Plains Indian Museum also holds an annual powwow in the Robbie Powwow Garden at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. Wyoming is home to numerous sites held sacred by Native Americans, including Devils Tower (also known as Bears Lodge) and the intriguing Medicine Wheel National Historic Site. Located in Bighorn National Forest near Lovell, the ancient stone circle with interior “spokes” has been likened to Stonehenge, and is believed to have been constructed by Indian tribes for religious or astrological purposes between 1200 and 1700 AD. Today, the site is used by Native Americans for religious ceremonies, and is open to the public from June to September.
Montana
Montana makes it easy for history buffs to experience a taste of what life in the untamed West was like hundreds and even thousands of years ago. In particular, the state’s Native American heritage is well preserved. The ancestral lands of the Blackfeet Indians, Montana is home to seven Indian reservations and 11 tribes whose powwows and other tribal events are not to be missed. Visit the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning – site of the annual North American Indian Days summer festival – or immerse yourself in the traditions of the Salish and Kootenai tribes on the nearby Flathead Indian Reservation. Witness what’s believed to be the largest modern-day encampment in the world. at the annual week-long Crow Fair and Rodeo, a celebration of the Apsáalooke Nation held each August in Crow Agency.
North Dakota
North Dakota’s individual tribes have distinct and different origins, histories and languages. Plains Indians are united by core beliefs and values that emanate from respect for the earth and an understanding of humankind’s relationship with nature. The tribes which have had a great influence on today’s North Dakota are the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara; the Yanktonai, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa and other Dakotah/Lakotah (commonly known as the Sioux) Tribes; and the Pembina Chippewa, Cree and Metis.
American Indian EtiquetteUnited Tribes International PowwowCrazy Horse MemorialTribesMitchell Prehistoric Indian Village
American Indian Etiquette
In the Great American West, our focus on the great states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota has always been centered on their natural beauty, their thriving tourism industries and the part each played in shaping American’s west into the diverse and vibrant enclave it is today. One central aspect of each state’s history and modern culture is the fascinating role American Indians played – and continue to play – in America’s West.
As a visitor to the Great American West Region, you have the opportunity to learn and experience firsthand how American Indian tribes continue to provide valuable economic and cultural contributions to the American Rockies region. As you begin to explore, however, it is very important to keep in mind that customs and American Indian laws should at all times be heeded in order to make this experience as productive and meaningful as possible for all parties. Below are several points that should be considered as you venture into American Indian territory:
- If you are witnessing a tribal ceremony, discretion is always the best route – at least initially. Always assume the role of “fly on the wall” spectator during a ritual, making certain to never get in the way of those conducting or participating in the ceremony. There are instances, or course, when outside participation is welcomed by the emcee, at which point you should feel free to volunteer and join in!
- Please refrain from touching or handling any of the feather or buckskin outfits of dancers or those in regalia, unless expressly invited to. These items often have ceremonial and personal meaning to the owner, and many of these outfits may be identified as family heirlooms.
- While photographs and video recording is a great way to capture the authentic beauty of American Indian customs and regalia, it is never a good idea to do so without first having express permission. Furthermore, certain rituals that require intense concentration from the participants (such as dance and drum ceremonies) can be disrupted by flash photography. Always use your best judgment and be certain to have permission before shooting or filming.
- Respect and obey all tribal laws. Tribes are sovereign nations on American soil and have jurisdictional rights.
- It is unlawful to harvest, gather or remove plants, medicines or trees from tribal grounds without express permission from a tribal representative.
- It is highly illegal to pick up or loot artifacts from sacred sites, burial, traditional and cultural properties. It is equally forbidden to trespass on any of these sites without proper escort.
- It can be construed as a sign of disrespect to openly discuss burials, burial sites, and those who have passed on.
- As a sign of deference (and a sign of common sense!) do not ever bring drugs or alcohol on any reservation or tribal territory. Alcohol and drugs are forbidden at all ceremonies, powwows and tribal events.
- Remember: When in doubt, ask first!
Part of the exceptional culture and history in The Great American West is firmly rooted in American Indian tradition. As you explore everything this region has to offer, simply keep in mind these few guidelines and respectfully enjoy all they have to offer!
United Tribes International Powwow
The Powwow is held annually in the Lone Star Arena at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota and has become one of the premier cultural events of North Dakota, receiving numerous awards over the years. Representing over 70 tribes, featuring over 1500 dancers and drummers, and drawing over 20,000 spectators the Powwow has become a must-see event!
Crazy Horse Memorial
“My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.”
These are the words Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote to sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1939 urging him to visit the Black Hills and carve a mountain sculpture honoring American Indians. Fifty-five years after Ziolkowski began carving Crazy Horse Memorial, his family continues the dream and work progresses on the world’s largest mountain sculpture. When finished, Crazy Horse will stand 641 feet long and 563 feet high.
See the sculpting live during your visit or attend one of the biannual night blasts, when spectacular ceremonial blasts light up the mountain with incredible fireballs and specially designed pyrotechnical features. Night blasts occur twice a year. The first blast takes place annually on June 26, a date that commemorates both the birthday of the late Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski—wife of the late Crazy Horse sculptor—and the anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn, where Crazy Horse was a main strategist in the defeat of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops. The second blast is on September 6th, the date of both Crazy Horse’s death in 1877 and the birth of sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1908.
Tribes in South Dakota
As the ancestral home of the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota tribes, South Dakota offers visitors an opportunity to experience authentic Native American culture. Travel the Native American Scenic Byway through the heart of the American Indian country. Visit the tribal lands of the state’s nine Indian tribes. View and purchase native arts and crafts at the Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain, the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, the Narrows Historical Interpretive Area near the town of Lower Brule, the H.V. Johnston Lakota Cultural Center in Eagle Butte, or Prairie Edge in Rapid City.
Learn more about the Native American National and State Scenic Byway
Witness the pageantry of a Native American powwow at events like the Kenel Memorial Day Powwow, Sisseton Wahpeton Wacipi, Flandreau Santee Annual Traditional Powwow, Fort Randal Powwow in Lake Andes, Oglala National Powwow and Rodeo in Pine Ridge, Kul-Wicasa Oyate Fair, Rodeo and Powwow at the Lower Brule Fairgrounds, or the Crow Creek Dakota National Wacipi in Fort Thompson. The state’s biggest American Indian celebration is probably Rapid City’s annual Black Hills Powwow, which attracts native singers, dancers and drummers from across the American West every October.
Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village
Discovered by a Dakota Wesleyan University student in 1910, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village is the only active archaeological site in South Dakota. Two students found rare 1,000-year-old bison bones in 2016. In 2017, students from South Dakota and England together uncovered an amazing cache of American Indian tools. The sheer amount of artifacts both found and undiscovered—the site is believed to be the home of 70 to 80 buried lodges—is one of the reasons why Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village is considered by the U.S. Department of the Interior to be one of the most important archaeological sites in the Great Plains region.
Visitors to the site aren’t allowed to dig, but they can immerse themselves in Native American history by checking out the site for themselves inside the Archeodome, which encloses the dig site and houses exhibits and a laboratory. The nearby on-site museum features historical items recovered from the site as well as audio/visual exhibits and reproductions of an earthen lodge and a bison skeleton. Hands-on activities are available for kids of all ages. Visitors can dive even deeper into history during the village’s annual special events, including Archaeology Awareness Days and Lakota Games on Ice.
Travel Guide
