RoadSchool-ND Knife River Indian Villages

10/7/2018

(Lily) We went to the site of Mandan and Hidatsa winter villages by Knife River. They had one earthlodge and inside it had a bison hoof doorbell, beds, a place for the horses, and a place for the chief. Inside the visitors center, they had a lot of animal furs, and things the tribes would use, or make. Kate and I did the Junior Ranger program. I learned that they went to different places in the winter and summer. The winter earthlodges were bigger so they could fit more people and animals to stay warm.

It smelled like campfire smoke.

The earthlodge depressions measured 30-60 feet in diameter.

Bull boat made with a bison skin, and gardening hoe made with a bison shoulder blade. 

Fox

Filling out my Jr. Ranger pages...

Sworn in and a new badge!

Two new Knife River Indian Villages Jr. Rangers

(Taylor) In the visitor center, and earthlodge, they had a bison bladder. They open it up, clean it out, and use it to haul water.

Bison bladder water bags.

(Kate) One thing I learned at Knife River Indian Villages: The Indians thought that the corn, and earthlodge huts had souls. Weird. They thought this about the huts because the air would come down through the hole in the top, and they thought the hut was singing to them. They also sang to the corn and cared for it as if it was a child.

A lot of light comes in through the vent in the ceiling, but it still stays warm.

(Nelina) I found their pit cache interesting... kind of like a cellar, but layered. The Mandan and Hidatsa sometimes had one inside the earthlodge, as well as outside.

 After a week, we decided it was time to find a laundromat. It's actually nice that it has been pretty cool... that means less sweating... less stinky clothes in general. Confession: I've been wearing my shirts for 2-3 days, and same jeans all week. Yes, we do have a shower in our trailer! ;)