Standing Rock Sioux Nation Tour

The Standing Rock Sioux Nation, home to the Húŋkpapȟa, Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋ, Húŋkpathi, and Sihásapa bands of the Dakȟóta Lakȟóta Oyáte, welcome you to attend a once-in-a-lifetime experience to visit the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and learn about our history and culture from our very own tribal members. Join us and learn what it means to be Dakȟóta/Lakȟóta people.

Following an orientation breakfast on the first day, you will learn from a tribal elder how to build a Thípi Lodge and the significance of this traditional structure. After a traditional meal, you will have a chance to walk with our buffalo and learn about their importance to Dakȟóta/Lakȟóta culture. You will have free time to explore our beautiful scenery along the Missouri River. Walk trails and see native grasslands and flora along its path. A tribal member who specializes in conservation will accompany you on this walk to share knowledge about traditional herbs and their medicinal uses. In the evening, a tribal member will host a star viewing, describing our Dakȟóta/Lakȟóta astronomy. Finally, ending the night with storytelling and discussion around a campfire with a tribal elder.

In the morning, we will start by visiting historic sites and learn about our most famous member – Sitting Bull. From there we will go to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal building to meet with the elected leaders from our Tribal Nation and converse about the modern-day life of people on the reservation. The second day will conclude with a visit to Cannonball River. We will have lunch at the site where our Dakȟóta/Lakȟóta people took a stand against the construction of a pipeline endangering the waters we need to survive. This tour provides an amazing opportunity to get to know and learn from Indigenous people. You will come away with a greater understanding of the Dakȟóta/Lakȟóta people, our culture, and our history.

The people of Standing Rock, often called Sioux, are members of the Dakota and Lakota nations. “Dakota” and “Lakota” mean “friends” or “allies.” The people of these nations are often called “Sioux”, a term that dates back to the seventeenth century when the people were living in the Great Lakes area. The Ojibwa called the Lakota and Dakota “Nadouwesou” meaning “adders.” This term, shortened and corrupted by French traders, resulted in the retention of the last syllable as “Sioux.” There are various Sioux divisions and each has important cultural, linguistic, territorial, and political distinctions.

The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation is situated in North and South Dakota and consists of 2.3 million acres across both North Dakota and South Dakota, enveloped in rolling hills and natural prairie. The reservation is also located along major waterways which include the breathtaking Missouri River, Grand River, Cannonball River, Cedar Creek, and Lake Oahe. We invite you to share a part of our unique world and rich history which includes great leaders such as Sitting Bull, Gall, Two Bears, and many others. Let us share our stories of Lewis and Clark traveling our rivers, the death of Sakakawea at Fort Manuel Lisa, the victory of Little Big Horn, Major James McLaughlin, and the death of Sitting Bull, the reservation days, and who we are today.

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.