| Summary: | History, Culture and Military Service Define North Dakota's American Indians' Niche in the World The fascination with the history and culture of the American Indian nations continues to be strong around the world. An example of this international interest is the recent loan of several artifacts from the State Historical Society of North Dakota's collections for a major European exhibit called "Sitting Bull and His World," which went on display in late 2008 and will continue through the summer of 2010 at the Overseas Museum in Bremen, Germany, the Museum Centre Vaprikki in Tampere, Finland, and the Ethnological Museum in Vienna, Austria. The State of North Dakota has a national and international reputation for its extensive collection of artifacts of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Sahnish (Arikara), Anishinabe (Chippewa) and Dakota (Sioux) nations. Since the millennium, in addition to the current European exhibition, artifacts have been on loan to Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. North Dakota is also a destination for historians and ethnologists because of the accessibility of the many descendents of tribal peoples who are willing to meet with historians and ethnologists to discuss issues of interest about their heritage. In the past five years, the state has worked with researchers from many nations, including Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Italy and Canada. Included in the state's artifacts is an exceptional collection of Chippewa beadwork, Dakota quillwork and beadwork, and artifacts relating to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Sahnish people. These artifacts are exhibited at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, Pembina State Museum, Missouri-Yellowstone Interpretive Confluence Center, and Fort Abercrombie and Fort Totten state historic sites. They also are on loan to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Cross Ranch State Park, Icelandic Heritage Center, National Buffalo Museum, Chahinkipapa Zoo Interpretive Center, and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Other museums in North Dakota with significant collections of American Indian artifacts include the Three Tribes Museum, which interprets the Mandan Hidatsa Chippewa bandolier bag, from the 1890s. 512 2009-201 1 North Dakota blue Book
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