"A ribbon cutting Monday opened the third Four Bears Bridge, near New Town, N.D. The bridge is a cement and mortar marker in the history of the Sahnish, Mandan and Hidatsa. The story of those bridges must begin with the reason for its existence -- the Missouri River.

The Big Muddy was born from Rocky Mountains runoff. As she grew in strength, the river ran east toward the high Plains and Badlands. Then, for some reason, she made a smooth and round turn toward the southeast, cutting off a corner of North Dakota. There, she meandered until she reached the Mississippi River -- the longest journey of any river in this nation.

It is this river that many Plains tribes depended upon for life sustenance during the early years of their history. It was this river that American Indians had to ford each time they wanted to go west or come east.

Bridges for access and dams that would tame her were yet to come."

Get the Story:
DORREEN YELLOW BIRD: A bridge to future and past (The Grand Forks Herald 10/8)

More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
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Yellow Bird: Indian Health Service has failed us (5/10)
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