Three Affiliated Tribes and Oil

Sunday, July 2, 2017    Killdeer Mts, Three Affiliated Tribes and OIL

Our day started by heading west on I-94.  We visited Salem Sue, she was overlooking the plains.  This is a big dairy community so Sue is representing their interests.

This metal sculpture, Geese in Flight, marked the beginning of the Enchanted Hwy.  We had visited it last time we were here.  There are 200 of these “flying geese” lining the driveway up to the sculpture. 

From Dickinson we headed north on the Four Bears Hwy. 

The Killdeer Mts were off to the west.  We soon saw evidence of the changes that have come to this area.  About 10 years ago they started fracing the Bakken Shale and pulling the oil out of it.  We saw oil drilling rigs and pumping stations everywhere.  They dotted the landscape.  This proceeded all the way to Williston ND and probably beyond.  We followed and were followed by tankers along this long stretch of highway.  There were still plenty of cows, horses and the occasional area filled with corn and canola crops. 

We dipped into a valley and were surprised to see the badlands appearing  before us.

Just outside of New Town we came across the Three Affiliated Tribes Indian Village, the three tribes are made up of the Mandan, Hidatsa and the Arikara. 

Inside of earthern lodge.  It was extremely cool inside.

We pulled in to view the earthen lodges and were greeted by James. 

He was one of the tribe and he took the time to show us the lodges and answered all the questions we had not only about the tribe but about the area and how oil has affected things up here.  He said the Winters were hard.  The temps get down to -60 and they have tons of snow.  The oil has been both good and  bad.  It tears up the landscape and the roads they need to do their job are big and plentiful, but the money it has generated for the tribe has helped them build schools and health facilities for their people.

center of their ceremonial lodge

painted buffalo robe

headdress made with crow feathers and tips of ermine

New Town is close to the end of Lake Sakakawee, remember it is 178 miles long.  We crossed a bridge and we were now on the north side which continued west for another 70 miles.  The road was all tore up for about 20 miles outside of town.  We were forced to go only 25 mph since we were driving on dirt.  They are making the road into a 4 lane to help the trucks that are servicing the oil interests. 

Again about 11 miles outside of Williston we were driving on gravel.  The construction projects here are massive.  Once in Williston the changes brought on by the fracing of the shale has created huge changes for this oil town.  Halliburton and Baker-Hughes buildings take up most of the east part of town.  These are companies that support the oil production by supplying equipment.  The majority of this town appears to be not more than 10 years old.  There are huge new apartment complexes and tons and tons of new buildings with companies brought in to cash in on this newest gold rush. OIL is definitely king.   

We checked into the Landmark Suites.  Probably the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at.  Here again it wasn’t more than 3 years old.  Beautiful room with full kitchen, including dishwasher.  It had a nice living room and separate sleeping area. 

We headed out to find a restaurant for dinner.  So much of the road was closed and under construction we found it hard to find the business district.  After two false starts, turning around to head back the way we came, we found civilization.  We ate at Doc Holiday’s Roadhouse enjoying angus burgers.  Their signature drink made with Huckleberry Vodka was scrumptious. And then we did our laundry.