Opinion
Yellow Bird: Forts and Indian Country history


"Forts in the Dakota Territory were built on rivers or streams. They were there for the protection of settlers who were passing through the Dakotas for Montana gold or land on the West Coast.

There were many forts. Some of those in our area were Park River Post, a North West Co. trading post on the Red River near Grand Forks; Fort Pembina (1870- 1895), built to watch the Sioux and the growing disturbances of the Red River settlements; Grand Forks Post, a North West Co. trading post founded by members of the Pembina settlement.

Fort Totten (1867�1890), now a historical site, first was a military post and then a school for children from Spirit Lake Dakota Sioux and Turtle Mountain Chippewa of Belcourt, N.D.

The old fort still is intact, probably because it was boarding school not too long ago. There are people who still live at Fort Totten who went to school there. I have toured the fort a couple of times. I always feel a deep sadness when I walk the grounds."

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: Colorful history surrounds Great Plains forts (The Grand Forks Herald 11/3)
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