THREE AFFILIATED TRIBES OF FORT BERTHOLD

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE

THREE AFFILIATED TRIBES TRIBAL GOVERNMENT:

The United States Government as defined by the United States Constitution has governmental relationships with International, Tribal, and State entities. The tribal nations have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The Tribes signed treaties in the 1800's with the United States which are the legal documents that established our boundaries and recognized our rights as a sovereign government.

A reservation for the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold lands was originally established under the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 and modified over the years resulting in the final establishment of the reservation by the Executive Order of April 12, 1870. The tribal government maintains jurisdiction within the boundaries of the reservation including all rights-of-way, waterways, water courses and streams running through any part of the reservation and to such other lands as may hereafter be added to the reservation under the laws of the United States.

The tribal government operates under a constitution consistent with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and a Business Council approved by the tribal membership of the Three Affiliated Tribes. The Business Council consists of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and three additional Council members who are elected by the tribal members.

The Chairman is the administrative head of the Tribe. The Chairman and the Officers serve a four-year term and are elected at large with the three members elected from their districts.

Fort Berthold Reservation Districts:

West, North, East, and South Segments

LAND:

The Fort Berthold Service Unit is located in west central North Dakota and covers approximately 12,284 square miles in 6 counties: McLean, Mercer, Dunn, Mountrail, McKenzie, and Ward. The Missouri River traverses the middle of the reservation and divides the reservation into three separate areas. The total land area of the reservation is 988,000 acres with 457,837 acres in tribal and individual Indian ownership. The land is an integral part of our culture and the economic base of the reservation.

The western and southern areas of the reservation are predominately rolling prairie grasslands, occasionally broken by buttes. Erosive effects of the Missouri and Little Missouri Rivers are evident in the scenic Badlands that impinge on the western and southern segments of the reservation. The northern and eastern areas of the reservation are desirable fertile farm land. The Missouri River, flowing through the heartland of the area, is backed up by the Garrison Dam at Riverdale, ND creating Lake Sakakawea. The area's prime bottom lands and timber have been flooded by the lake, which is a prime recreational site containing over 600 miles of shoreline in North Dakota.

CULTURE:

The tribal members are descendants of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations. The Tribes were classified as plains Tribes but had developed a different culture from the neighboring Tribes in that they developed an agricultural livelihood and lived in permanent earthlodges. These earthlodges, ingenious architectural accomplishments, were constructed of wooden posts and beams surrounded by heavy packed earth.

Social activities such as powwows, rodeos, and races were celebrated in the summer months. Special powwows are held for individuals who accomplished a stage in their lives such as graduation or acceptance in the armed forces with traditional honoring ceremonies, give aways, and feasts to celebrate the accomplishments. The oral tradition is still passed down from the elders to the youth.

HISTORY:

The Fort Berthold reservation is home to three Tribes: the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. The Hidatsa and Mandan lived permanently in the present area since 1845. Prior to 1845, they lived in villages at the mouth of the Knife River. After their move to this area, they helped build and eventually settled around a fur trading post for the American Fur Company. The post was built on a bend of the Missouri called by the Tribes "Like-a-Fishook-Village." The Arikara later moved up the river and joined with Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes around 1862.

The original reservation was established for the three Tribes by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. A large tract of land was ceded by the Fort Berthold Agreement of 1866. In 1868 an Executive Order reduced the reservation by 98,645 acres. In 1870 an investigation showed that the Fort Laramie Treaty had never been ratified by Congress, therefore, no reservation existed for the three Tribes. An Executive Order of April 12, 1870, established a reservation that was much smaller than the area described in the Fort Laramie Treaty. In July 13, 1880, an Executive Order took that portion of the reservation required to fulfill a grant made by Congress to the Northern Pacific Railway. Additional acres and cedings brought the reservation down to about 1,000,000 acres and the external boundaries now recognized.

On July 31, 1947, the history of the reservation was dramatically changed. Federal legislation was enacted that provided for the taking of reservation lands for the Garrison Reservoir. Thirty miles downstream from New Town, North Dakota is the Garrison Dam. Begun in 1946 and completed in 1956, the dam inundated 155,000 acres of prime agricultural land of the reservation. Not only did this federal project take many acres, it also disrupted tribal social and economic patterns. The reservoir, now known as Lake Sakakawea, divided the reservation into five segments now identified as districts. Communication between these segments is difficult because only one bridge at the northern end of the reservation crosses the lake. Central transportation is nonexistent. To reach the southern segment, one must travel over 100 miles around the lake. The overall infrastructure that was to replace the old fell short of tribal expectations and federal-tribal agreements.

The Allotment Act of 1888 allotted Indian lands into 160-acre lots to adult male heads of household and 80 acre lots to adult males to further divide the nation. The Act and subsequent foreclosures due to illegal taxation and land sales and numerous Homestead Acts have further reduced individual and tribal land holdings on the reservation today to about one-half their original size prior to 1880.

CLIMATE:

The continental climate is prominent for this area, experiencing cold winters and warm summers. Dominated by the Arctic jet stream, winter temperatures tend to be extreme, averaging 8 degrees Fahrenheit in January, the coldest month. Blizzard conditions are common, aggravated by the prevailing wintery winds. Summer temperatures are generally warm, averaging 69 degrees Fahrenheit. The area is semi-arid, averaging 15 inches of rainfall annually. Summer months are dotted with thundershowers while tornados, hail, and severe weather occur at infrequent intervals.

TRANSPORTATION:

There are 132 miles of paved state highways on the reservation, Highway 37 in the eastern portion and Highway 8 in the south. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) maintains an internal road network of 262 miles: 70% graveled, 10% paved, and 20% are trails. Roads serving rural homes and ranches are either scoriae or gravel. The Missouri River (Lake Sakakawea), dividing the reservation, can only be crossed at the Four Bear bridge, west of New Town. This has created an effective barrier to accessibility and transportation.

Four bus lines, two airlines, and an Amtrack train provide passenger service to this part of North Dakota, but access to these services is concentrated in Bismarck, Minot, and Williston, North Dakota.

TRIBAL ECONOMY:

The major economic occupation on the Fort Berthold Reservation is cattle ranching and farming for a number of tribal operators. Commercial business by private operators include convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, laundromat, auto repair shop, a video arcade/fast food shop, and arts and handcrafts, and other service and commercial vendors.

The majority of employment is provided by the Three Affiliated Tribes, Fort Berthold Community College, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and Four Bears Casino and Lodge.

RECREATION:

The Three Affiliated Tribes have some of the finest hunting and fishing in the area. Water sports are enjoyed by many residents and non-residents on the Missouri River. The Tribe operates Four Bears Casino and Lodge for visitors and sportsmen.

The Nation sponsors several annual celebrations with dancing competitions. The summer event also includes a rodeo and a softball tournament. There are several beach areas and boat ramps for fishing and water sports. There is also an area rodeo club for rodeo sports. During the year, other sports activities such as softball, volleyball, and basketball tournaments are also held.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:

The Three Affiliated Tribes provide an Elderly Nutrition Program and Youth Cultural/Recreational Activities. Health care is provided by the Indian Health Service at the four service areas of the Minne-Tohe Health Center: Mandaree Health Station, White Shield Health Station and Twin Buttes Health Station. The Tribal Health Department provides a number of health services including the Community Health Representative Program, and the Ambulance Service for emergency health care services.

Communities such as Mandaree, White Shield, and Twin Buttes have few amenities available: post office, churches, and a very limited convenience store. Police coverage is provided by the BIA and/or Tribe and fire departments are usually volunteer with a mix of BIA equipment and employees. In some of the smaller towns within the service unit such as Watford City, Halliday, and New Town, basic amenities, such as grocery/clothing stores, restaurants, and service stations are available.

HOUSING:

Housing in the major communities consists of mutual help homes built through various government programs. The tribal low-rent housing units and mutual help scattered-site homes that exist in the communities and rural areas are managed by the Fort Berthold Housing Authority. Housing for government employees is limited with a few quarters available to IHS employees in the Four Bears Community and to BIA employees in Mandaree and White Shield. Private purchase and rental housing are available in New Town.

FUTURE:

The Three Affiliated Tribes desire to continue their progress in providing for our people and the development of increased self-sufficiency. There are plans to develop natural and cultural resources to preserve and educate Tribal members and non-members. The development of tourism may strengthen the economy on the reservation. The Nation will continue to search for ways to maintain our culture and develop new economic opportunities for our future generations.

Environmental Summary:

Reservation Water System: Shallow groundwater is not obtainable on most of the Reservation of the Three Affiliated Tribes, and where it is found, it is often of poor quality. Surface waters, though valuable and widely distributed resources, are undependable because of scanty and erratic precipitation. Artesian water from deeply buried bedrock aquifers underlies all of the reservation. These aquifers are not, and probably will not become highly developed sources of water because of the high-to-very-high salinity and other mineral content of artesian water in most of the area.

Water Availability and Use: The Bureau of Indian Affairs NRIS data identifies a total of 78,150 acres of agricultural land on the Ft. Berthold Reservation and 377,134 acres of grazing lands. Surface water from lakes, rivers, and aquifers are the major water source for the reservation. Other reservation streams have extremely variable flow patterns and are not reliable enough for a year-round supply. Groundwater is not as abundant as surface water nor is the quality as high and where available it is usually adequate for only small scale use. This impacts both domestic and livestock water supplies and expansion therein. For these reasons, the Tribe is researching water development needs and projects for the reservation.

Terrain: Rolling hills, river breaks, and stock dams dominate the reservation.

Environmental Problem Statement: In 1996, tribal environmental staff identified the following problem statement,"One failing sewage lagoon and several potentially failing sewage lagoons may be a hazard to area groundwater and surface water quality and may limit housing growth in areas served by the lagoons," as the major reservation environmental problem which is a hazard to the health of reservation residents.