MHA Times

Clans show their colors

Representatives of most of the clans of the Hidatsa people showed their pride standing with veterans at the Mandaree Celebration. West Segment provided t-shirts for each clan and bracelets to indicate a child of a clan. (Photo by Jerry W. Kram)

By Jerry W. Kram

MHA Times Reporter

There are seven clans of the Hidatsa people and six of them were represented in a clan parade at the Mandaree Celebration Friday. Sherry Turner-Lonefight’s office provided shirts to the public with the name of the person’s clan. There were also silicone bracelets
to indicate what clan a person was a child of. Loretta Lone Bear and Renee Brown were in charge of the crew handing out the shirts and bracelets.

“We do this to remind people and teach them about their clan,” Lone Bear said. “You take your mother’s side. You are the child of your father’s clan and you belong to your mother’s clan.”

There are seven existing clans that survived the epidemics of the 19th century, The three clan groups are the Low Cap, Knife, and Alkali Lodge Clans. The four clan groups are the Water Buster, Prairie Chicken, Dripping Dirt, and Wide Ridge Clan. All but the Wide Ridge Clan were represented at the Mandaree Celebration. Lone Bear said the Wide Ridge Clan had nearly disappeared. However, it was slowly rebuilding itself through adoption and currently had about 20 members.

Lone Bear was excited that the clans would be on display at the celebration. She thinks this is the fourth year the Celebration has hosted a clan parade.

“It is going to be beautiful,” she said. “Since we started this there has been a big increase in the number of people wanting to know their clans. A lot didn’t know and now they are asking.” If a person doesn’t know their clan Lone Bear helps figure it out. “If they don’t know I ask, ‘Who’s your mother, who’s your grandmother?’” She said. “That way we can figure it out. It’s nice to help them learn where they come from.”

Lone Bear said he hopes the Mandaree Celebration continues this tradition for many years to come. “I invite people to come out next year,” she said. “If you don’t know your clan, come ask. That’s the only way you’re going to find out. Come out and enjoy yourself at the powwow.”

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