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The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa will have a greater representation this year at the Norsk Hstfest, said Les Thomas, a member of the tribe's tourism board.

Tribal members Tom Patton, of Finley, and Taylor Dayne Falcon, of Belcourt, are both set to perform daily during Hstfest.

Patton has been an Elvis Presley impersonator for about three and a half years and will be performing Elvis standards from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s and changing his costumes to best represent how the performer looked at the different stages of his career.

Patton's favorite Elvis song is "How Great Thou Art."

"It's a very powerful song," said Patton, who got his start when he asked a friend if he could borrow his Elvis costume for Halloween. He was so good at it that the friend gave him the costume and told Patton, "You're the new Elvis." Patton has never married a couple as some Elvis impersonators do in Las Vegas, but he said he once performed at a wedding reception along with a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. He also performed at the North Dakota State Fair, which was a lot of fun.

Patton will be performing once a day during Hstfest. He said this is the 75th anniversary of Elvis's birth.

Falcon and the band Flashback, made up of J.J. Gourneau, Mitch Poitra, and Eli Ouellette, will perform twice a day during Hstfest. Falcon said she will perform the songs she has written as well as some old country and western standards by artists such as Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Reba McEntyre, and The Judds. Falcon also performed at the MetisFest held at the International Peace Garden this summer and competed in a talent contest in Las Vegas in January.

Thomas said the tribe has had a booth at Hstfest during previous years, but this represents an expansion. The tribe will have a Red River cart, a tepee, and arts and crafts on display in the Troll Stroll South tunnel leading to the new Hstfest Theater building. The cart and the tepee belong to Dan Jerome, who will also perform on a traditional flute one day during Hstfest.

"This is a chance to showcase our culture," said Thomas.

The expansion is part of the tribe's Pathways to Prosperity program, funded by an economic development grant from the Northwest Area Foundation. Thomas said some tribal members have some Finnish, Norwegian or Swedish ancestry, since Scandinavian-Americans have married tribal members. People from European countries are also often interested in learning about Chippewa heritage, he said.

A group of Sami will be visiting during Hstfest. Thomas said the Sami people of Scandinavia have some traditions in common with American Indians.

The group is looking forward to sharing its traditions with people at Hstfest.