MHA Tour

The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation is home to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (people traditionally known as the Nueta, Nuxbaaga, and Sahnish). The reservation straddles the north and south shores of Lake Sakakawea, a man-made lake that was formed after the construction of Garrison Dam on the Missouri River.  Hear the powerful stories of how the dam affected the people who lived in this area, and what affects still remain as view the lake from Crow Flies High Butte.  On your guided tour, you will stop at the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum which houses an important collection of artifacts and visit the newly constructed MHA Interpretive Center for a more in-depth look at the land and its people.  Then, experience what life was like in an earth lodge. Take a medicine walk and learn what native plants in the area are used for medicine.  And lastly, learn the meaning behind our regalia and dances as you experience a dance demonstration from local performers before sitting down to a traditional meal.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, welcomes you to the Fort Berthold Reservation to explore the breathtaking beauty of our lands, experience our rich culture and enjoy traditional Native American artistry.  You will hear from Mandan, Hidatsa, and Sahnish (Arikara) guides throughout the day to get their unique perspectives on our distinct cultures.

The morning starts with an educational stroll through outdoor interpretive panels which provide an overview of each of the three tribes, their bands and clan systems.  The trail through the panels leads to Four Bears Bridge, a historically significant site.  You will learn about the construction of the original bridge and imagine how different life must have been before it was built.

Next, the tour will shuttle across the bridge to the Crow Flies High Lookout. Here, you will learn about the geography of the reservation and the history leading up to the Garrison Dam.  The dam was completed in 1954 and  flooded a quarter of the reservation.  It destroyed 94% of the reservation’s agricultural land  and forever changed the lives of the Manda, Hidatsa and Sahnish people.  

From the lookout, we will take a tour of the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum, which houses an important collection of artifacts spanning our tribes’ past and present, including local archeological finds and wonderful examples of beadwork and quillwork produced in the last century.  After the museum tour, we will head to the new MHA Interpretive Center for lunch before taking a guided tour which will provide an in-depth understanding of the three unique tribal cultures and histories.  

Later in the afternoon, we will head to our earth lodge village where you will try your hand at constructing one of our traditional dwellings.  You will also have the opportunity to listen to stories from an Elder and take a stroll to learn about local medicinal plants.  Soon after, the heartbeat of the drum will fill the earth lodge as dancers showcase their traditional dances and intricate regalia.  A dinner (and dessert!) of traditional foods provide the perfect end to a full day immersed in the heritage of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Sahnish people.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in central North Dakota. The reservation is located on the Missouri River in McLean, Mountrail, Dunn, McKenzie, Mercer and Ward counties. The reservation consists of 988,000 acres, of which 457,837 acres are owned by Native Americans, either as individual allotments or communally by the tribe.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Tribes (also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes) have lived along the banks of the Missouri River for thousands of years. The lake’s modern-day name honors Sakakawea (also known as Sacagawea), the Native American woman who accompanied the Lewis & Clark Expedition as an interpreter and guide. The Mandan, Hidatsa and later Arikara Tribes prospered in earth lodge villages along the Knife and Missouri Rivers. By 1862, diseases like smallpox wiped out entire villages, forcing survivors of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Tribes to band together. The three tribes came together in Like-a-Fishhook Village but maintained their tribal identity.

For more information, visit the MHA Nation’s History Page and refer to the MHA History Booklet.

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.