One of the most popular side stages at this year’s Scandinavian festival featured Native American dances, music and story-telling by members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA Nation).

Les Thomas, board president of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, said it was both meaningful and fitting that the cultural exchange hosted by descendents of Scandinavian immigrants occurred on historically indigenous land in Minot.

“It was an historic moment at the Hostfest,” he said. “It was a meeting of the cultures.”

Fiddling Lefty, Ryan Keplin, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (TMBC), took to the stage with a standout performance showcasing the musical heritage of the tribe.

Submitted Photo Red Thunder Jrs., a Native American drum group, performs on a Norsk Hostfest stage in front of a large audience. Photo by Janice McLean.

The Native American cultural showcase featured: Red Thunder Jrs., drum group; Marshall LaRocque, storyteller, TMBC; Keith Bear, flute player and traditional dancer, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (MHA); Brad Davis, traditional dancer, TMBC; Jodi Hajicek, shawl and jingle dancer, and her daughter Malika LaVallie, women’s traditional dancer, TMBC; Sage Casas, fancy dancer and prairie chicken dancer, and her son Killian Casas, youth grass dancer, MHA; and Runs Above Foolish Bear, youth grass dancer, MHA.

Each powwow dance was explained by Marshall LaRocque, TMBC, offering context and insight into the meaning behind each movement.

The two performances, held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27, were coordinated and emceed by Thomas, enrolled member of TMBC and tourism consultant for the tribe.

There’s been a tribal presence at Hostfest for many years. A number of years ago, an appearance at Hostfest by the Sami, who are indigenous to northern Scandinavia, forged a connection with the Turtle Mountain tribe at the festival because of cultural similarities, which opened more opportunities for tribal presentations at the event. However, this was the first year local tribal culture has been showcased on a main side stage.

“When you celebrate heritage and culture, whether you’re Scandinavian or Native American, there is this notion that by learning about where we come from, we learn more about how we have things in common,” said Norsk Hostfest Executive Director Searle Swedlund.

He said the decision to place a Native showcase on a main side stage was a combination of Thomas’ interest in more fully sharing the Native American story in a larger space and the keen interest of audiences to learn more.

“The attendance at all of his presentations was just remarkable, just absolutely wonderfully attended,” Swedlund said. “Our audience loved it.

“Just by virtue of the feedback we received so far, we hope this will be a long-standing tradition and maybe something we can build on as we think about our connectedness to other parts of this world,” Swedlund added, expressing a sentiment echoed in a statement by Thomas on behalf of TMBC.

“The enthusiasm and positive response from attendees underscore the importance of continued cultural inclusion at the festival,” the statement read. “It is hoped that this meaningful celebration of Native American heritage will become a recurring feature in the years to come.”