See the Chief Little Shell Powwow in Dunseith

This regional recreation suggestion takes you to the Turtle Mountain region, where there is much to explore, from the breathtaking Turtle Mountains, the International Peace Gardens, Lake Metigoshe, the Geographical Center of North America and miles of scenic views. Your destination this weekend is the Chief Little Shell Memorial Powwow in Dunseith, to share in a celebration of Native American culture and heritage. The Chief Little Shell Powwow, held annually since 1988, was created to honor the last of the hereditary chiefs of the Pembina Band of Chippewa. Chief Little Shell III was the last of the hereditary chiefs of the Pembina Band of Ojibwe.

The Chief Little Shell Powwow begins August 3, with the Grand Entry at 7 p.m., and continues through August 5. The third annual Walk in Memory of all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women is August 5 at 5 p.m., starting at the Cenex parking lot.

What is a Native American powwow?

For those of us who have never attended a powwow, it can be a very educational experience in which to learn about the rich cultural traditions of the Indigenous song and dance. The website http://www.powwow.com provides a glimpse into a typical powwow. Most powwows are organized by committees that work weeks and even months before the event to bring the people together in fellowship. Powwows are about maintaining connections, as people meet together, join in dance and song, renew old friendships and make new ones. This is a time to renew ties to Native American culture and preserve the rich heritage.

A powwow begins with the Grand Entry; which is when everyone enters the arena. Everyone is asked to stand as the veterans bring the flags into the arena. These flags generally include the flag of the United States, Tribal Flags, the Prisoner of War Flag and the Eagle Staff from all the Native Nations present at the powwow.

The Tribal leaders, princesses, elders and powwow organizers are honored guests, and they enter behind the veterans. They are followed by the dancers. First the men, and then the women enter the arena. An opening song is sung to honor the flags and the veterans, followed by a prayer. Then the dancing starts. At contest powwows, the dancers compete in dance and age categories for prizes.

Dance has always been a very important part of the life of Native Americans. Most dances seen at powwows today are social dances, which might have had different meanings in earlier days. Although dance styles and content have changed, their meaning and importance has not. The outfits worn by the dancers, like all styles of clothing evolve over time, change. It is not a stagnant culture, but a vibrant and changing way of life. The dance styles seen most frequently for men at modern powwows include Chicken, Grass, Fancy, Straight and Northern Traditional. The women dance Buckskin, Cloth, Jingle and Fancy Shawl.

While you are in the Turtle Mountain area, make sure to travel the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway, a 53-mile tour that leads through the beautiful, forested hills of north central North Dakota, with five stops highlighted along the way. The western end of the byway starts with Mystical Horizons, the "Stonehenge" of the prairie that has breathtaking views overlooking farmland west of the Turtle Mountains. The stone and cement structures are designed to view summer and winter solstice and the equinox. The site also includes a working sundial.

Your next stop along the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway is Lake Metigoshe State Park, which is one of the most popular year-round vacation spots in North Dakota. The park has both modern and primitive camping, picnicking areas, group dormitories, kitchen and meeting facilities and year-round cabins available for rent while you enjoy hiking, biking, birding, canoeing and wildlife viewing.

The International Peace Gardens are close to Dunseith. The 2,339-acre botanical garden, shared by the United States and Canada commemorates peace between the two countries. Its blooms include more than 150,000 varieties of flowers and showcases the Peace Chapel, Interpretive Center and Floral Clock.

Then, travel to the last two highlighted stops at the far east end of the Scenic Byway, the Martineau House Information Center and Historic Coghlan Castle. The Martineau House is an 1889 folk Victorian house eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Sites. It was converted for use as a visitor center for the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway. Unfortunately, the North Dakota Tourism site says the center is only open on weekdays. Coghlan Castle is the only building in North Dakota that showcases its unique building style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 and is constructed from local granite, limestone and sandstone. A non-profit group is in the process of restoring this building, which will include an interpretive center for the Scenic Byway.

Before traveling to the Turtle Mountain region, be sure to stop into the New Rockford Transcript office and pick up one of the Turtle Mountain guides, which will provide you with some little-known but fascinating stops along the way. The guide provides information and photos of places to see, provides maps of the area, opening and closing times of attractions, area businesses, border entry information, and interesting restaurant choices. Travel to the Turtle Mountains-you'll be glad you did!