- Established on 2,100 acres of ancestral lands near Little Missouri River
- Partners with Little Missouri State Park for trail connectivity
- Aims to complete 10+ miles of hiking trails by 2025
- Implements native plant restoration to combat invasive species
- Funded by tribal oil revenues for sustainable tourism growth
The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (MHA) have taken a historic step in cultural preservation with the creation of Three Affiliated Tribes National Park. Spanning 2,100 acres of rugged Badlands terrain, this initiative reclaims ancestral lands lost through 19th-century government policies. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox emphasizes the dual mission: protecting sacred landscapes while creating recreational opportunities like kayaking and wildlife viewing.
Park development prioritizes ecological sensitivity, with Superintendent Ethan White Calfe stating restoration goals aim to return the land to its pre-colonial state. Crews are combatting invasive species threatening native prairie grasses, using traditional ecological knowledge alongside modern conservation techniques. Early projects focus on stabilizing erosion-prone areas that hold ancient fossils and petrified wood.
Strategic partnerships amplify the park’s impact. North Dakota’s Parks Department is collaborating on trail connections to the 40-mile Little Missouri State Park network. This mirrors successful models like the Blackfeet Tribe’s Glacier National Park partnerships, demonstrating how tribal-state collaborations can enhance regional tourism ecosystems.
Financial sustainability comes from the tribe’s oil revenues, a deliberate reinvestment in post-extraction land stewardship. While energy development funds the project, officials stress balanced growth—a lesson learned from the Bakken oil boom’s environmental impacts. This approach reflects a growing trend: 37% of tribal nations now fund conservation through resource revenue sharing agreements.
Visitor infrastructure remains intentionally low-impact, with free permits required to limit foot traffic. Early adopters praise the park’s raw beauty, where steep riverbanks contrast with high plains vistas. Future phases will add a cultural visitor center detailing the Hidatsa people’s 300-year connection to the Missouri River basin.
The park’s soft opening strategy allows adaptive management, with trail mileage expanding based on erosion monitoring data. This cautious growth mirrors the National Park Service’s “leave no trace” ethos while centering Indigenous perspectives—a shift from traditional conservation narratives.
Economic projections suggest the park could attract 15,000 annual visitors by 2026, complementing existing attractions like Lake Sakakawea. Tribal officials see this as critical diversification beyond oil, aligning with Bureau of Indian Affairs findings that cultural tourism grows 22% faster than mainstream travel sectors.
As bulldozers reshape old ranch roads into hiking paths, the MHA Nation redefines what preservation means in the 21st century. By blending tribal history with recreational innovation, this park sets a precedent for Indigenous-led environmental stewardship across the Great Plains.
