Saturday, August 22, 2009

August 20, 2009

Knife River Indian Villages

Headed south by way of a national historic site.  On the way we went over a dam on the Missouri River.  Behind the dam is a lake named for the Native American woman who traveled with Lewis and Clark.  I put it that way because her name is spelled several ways and pronounced as many ways depending on where you are.  You know who I am referring to though.  Big lake.  Big wind.  Big waves. The Knife River villages is where Lewis and Clark met the above referred to woman.  Because of the gray, cold, windy weather we did not tour the village site but the replica of the family earth lodge is amazing.  These dwellings put tepees and and cliff dwellings to shame.  This building is over 40 feet across.

Hidatsa Earthlodge

The video here was excellent in describing life in the villages.  The narration was based on the words and recollections of a woman who was born there and grew up and lived there living the old ways.  Seeing the video and then seeing the things she described in the museum really made it come to life.

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Hoe made from shoulder blade.  Rake made from antler.

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Further south to Bismarck and a campground to the east.



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