Culturally-Significant Landscapes
Native American Boarding School Accounts
Approx. 1 hr. 35 min. west of I-29
From Devil’s Heart to the Lake Monster: Dakota History & Legends
Visit the Dakota People of the Spirit Lake Tribe, the namesakes of two American states, in East Central North Dakota. Explore culturally significant sites on a scenic driving tour and learn about our history and land from tribal Elders. Dive into Dakota heritage with a traditional beading workshop and dance performance. The tour is a 24 hour immersive experience starting in the late afternoon and concluding before dinner the next day.
Highlights
Make your own beaded art with a local artist
Eat a traditional Dakota meal
Learn about the history and legends of the Spirit Lake Tribe from tribal Elders
Visit a national game preserve
Visit Fort Totten to understand the region’s military and Indian boarding school history
Attend and learn the significance of a traditional dance performance
Overview
Price
$486 per person
Meeting Point & Time
5:30 PM Dinner at The View Restaurant, Spirit Lake Casino & Resort
Address: 7889 Hwy 57, St. Michael, ND
Availability
June-September
Duration
1 day & 1 night
Group size
6-15 people
Included
- Transportation to and from all activities
- 1 hotel night at Spirit Lake Casino
- Entrance fees
- 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- Tips for all guides
Not included
- Airfare
- Personal trip insurance
- Transport to the meeting point
- Dinner on day 2
What to bring
Wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
A Dakota Experience
The Spirit Lake Tribe, established in 1867 and formerly known as the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, is home to the original Dakota People after which two American States are named. You will arrive in the afternoon and meet your tour guide. Then you will visit a local artist where you will learn about traditional beading and its importance in Dakota culture. You will even have the chance to make your own work of art. After dinner, spend the evening testing your luck at the games in our casino, before enjoying a restful night at our hotel, all located under one roof in our gaming facility.
In the morning, you will enjoy a wonderful breakfast at the casino buffet, and ready yourself for a full day exploring Spirit Lake. Our first stop will be White Horse Hill, a national game preserve. You will arrive in our air-conditioned bus designed for your comfort. Prepare to see buffalo, elk, deer, and the prairie dogs of a Prairie Dog Town – all while learning about the history and importance of White Horse Hill and its animals from a tribal elder. Climb to the top of the overlook for a birds-eye view of Devils Lake – (Minnewaukan-Spirit Water in Dakota), when you return, finish off the morning with an authentic traditional Dakota meal for lunch.
After lunch, we’ll head to the reservation. Our scenic tour of the reservation will take approximately one hour and will highlight the various geographical formations that shape and make up this region and its culture. How did the lake form, and why is it called “Devils Lake”? Learn about Devils Heart, Devils Tooth, and Devils Backbone and how they came to be, and of course, the Legend of the Lake Monster, said to have been responsible for the disappearance of many warriors and buffalo.
The next stop on your itinerary is Historic Fort Totten Square, North Dakota’s oldest and best-preserved military post. Learn about its history as a military fort and a Native American boarding school with certified North Dakota historic guides. You will also have the unique chance to learn from Dakota Elders about their boarding school experience and its impact on their lives and the tribe. At the end of your visit, you can learn how to play authentic Native American games. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if the best games are at the casino or on the prairie.
Welcome to Spirit Lake Nation
The Spirit Lake Tribe reservation was established by Treaty between the United States Government and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Bands in 1867. The reservation is located in East Central North Dakota. The reservation comprises the Sisseton, Wahpeton and the Cut-Head bands of Yanktonais, who had already been placed on the reservation. In January 2021, total enrollment of the Spirit Lake Tribe members was 7,559 with only 2,069 living on the reservation.
The topography of the reservation is generally consistent with the Northern Plains region, with both flat terrain and rolling hills, and some wooded areas. The major surface water feature of the reservation is Devils Lake, which comprises 90,000 acres of area stretched over 200 miles. There are also numerous small lakes on the reservation, including; Twin Lakes, Spring Lake, Free Peoples Lake, Elbow Lake, and Skin and Bone Lake. The Spirit Lake Reservation covers approximately 405 square miles.
Visitor Etiquette and FAQs
Native American Cultural Tours provides tribe-specific visitor guidelines prior to each tour to ensure guests are well-informed about appropriate protocols prior to their arrival. You can find answers to general questions about our tours and Native Americans on our FAQ page.
Summers in North Dakota summers are warm to hot, with the average high temperatures between 77°F (25°C) to 87°F (30.6°C) at the peak of July. Temperatures touch 90°F (32.2°C) for an average of 10 days in the northeast to 24 in the south.
We offer tours between June and September when the weather is best and the beauty of our land really shines.
The largest international airport in the region is Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport, about a four-hour drive from the eastern edge of North Dakota.
In addition, there are convenient regional airports within a couple of hours of each tribe:
- Spirit Lake Nation: Grand Forks Airport (GFK) is 2 hours east. Alternatives: Devils Lake Airport (15 min), Grand Forks International Airport (1 hr 30 min), Minot International Airport (2 hrs 15 min)
- Standing Rock Sioux Nation: Bismarck Airport (BIS) is 1 hr and 15 min north. Alternatives: Pierre Regional Airport (2 hrs 45 min), Hector International Airport (4 hrs), Rapid City Regional Airport (4 hrs 30 min)
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians: Minot Airport (MOT) is 2 hrs southwest. Alternatives: Grand Forks International Airport (2 hrs 45 min), Winnipeg and Manitoba Canada James Armstrong Richardson Airport (3 hrs 30 min)
- Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation: Minot Airport (MOT) is 2 hrs and 30 min east. Alternatives: Bismarck Airport (BIS) is 3 hr and 10 min southeast.
Car rentals are available at all of these airport locations. Public transport is not available.
Yes, all our tours are family-friendly although some history contains accounts that some may find difficult to hear.
Dress comfortably and bring layers and rain gear – our tours run rain or shine!
All tours start and end at the tribe’s resort casino specified in the tour itinerary.
Tour prices include all tips for guides and gratuities for other services.
Tour groups are expected to arrive at the meeting point- the designated casino resort- on their own. From there, each tour includes transport to and from every activity; tours will end back at the designated casino resort at the end of each day. Visitor vehicles can be left at the casino resort at no extra charge.
Banks are not available in every tribal community. However, ATMs are available within every casino resort establishment.
While tours are paid for in advance, any meals/snacks not included, incidentals, and momentos can be purchased with cash or credit card. Many artists only accept cash for artwork.
Yes, tribal communities are safe for visitors. Visitors are encouraged to be as vigilant about their belongings as they would be in any other destination. In addition, tour guides accompany tour groups on all experiences away from the casino resort to ensure groups do not get lost.
Each tour guide is trained to follow emergency protocols should any unforeseen health and safety incidents arise on a tour.
Refer to the specific tribe’s visitor guidelines provided by Native American Cultural Tours. Each tribe determines its own laws, rules, and regulations around tobacco, drug and alcohol use.
