The history of the Hidatsa people and the group known as the Xo’Shga is one of survival and the strong will and pride of the Hidatsa. Most people know the Trail of Tears that followed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The U.S. government – under the direction of President Andrew Jackson – forcibly removed tens of thousands of Natives from their ancestral homes, and thousands were murdered or died along the way west of the Mississippi River. Sadly, the Hidatsa were forced out and along their own trail of tears.

In 1869, the Xoshga Hidatsa people under the leadership of Crow Flies High and Bobtail Bull fled colonial persecution and lived along the Missouri River near present-day Williston. They wanted to live free and maintain a traditional lifestyle. The Xoshga were not discovered by the colonizers until 1894 when the government imprisoned and force-marched the Xoshga back to Ft. Berthold. 

The Xoshga that survived the winter march settled in the Shell Creek area south of where New Town would be established. Every year, the Xoshga Riders do a memorial ride in honor of their brave and hardy ancestors. The Antelope Society remains a stronghold to preserve the language and culture of the Hidatsa and Xoshga.

The Xoshga Days Rodeo was a great tribute because the Hidatsa have always been known as ‘horse people.’

Randy Baker is an MHA Nation tribal member, and he was instrumental in helping organize the rodeo. It was a sanctioned rodeo under the Northern Badlands Indian Rodeo Region #4.

Area rodeo ropers and riders who did well and finished in the Top Ten in Senior Team Roping were Jim Baker, who teamed up with his partner, Eric C. Watson, to place third in team roping.

Randy Baker and Everette Hall placed sixth, Mervin Packineau and Everette Hall teamed up to take ninth place.

The Team Roping competition was fierce, but Jess Hall and Everette Hall placed second. Jess Hall and Jesse Chase placed 4th, Daylon Danks, and Royce Heart came in 5th. Colton Keplin and  Hunter Karlson was 6th, Royce  Heart and Maylee Heart was 7th, Chaundee Chase and Everette Hall finished in 8th place, Jesse Chase and Tobin Cummings was 9th and in 10th place was Trent Keplin and Jim Baker.

 In Junior Team Roping; Arena Delorme and Daylon Danks placed first, Bailey Chase and Keegan Dee took sixth, Jessee Vigen and Maize Two Bears placed 9th,  and Hailey Vigen and Devin Bear Claw took 11th place.

In barrel racing, Maylee Heart took third, Leigh Foote was 7th, and Brandee Brugh and her horse worked their way to a 10th place finish.

In the tie-down roping competition, Daylon Danks took first place, followed by Dillon Wickum. Jesse Chase did well with his fourth-place finish.

In the always exciting saddle bronc competition, Marty Young Bear of Twin Buttes won first place with a dandy ride.

In the Senior Breakaway, Clayton Danks of Mandaree placed fourth, Hubert Heart took fifth, Frank Whitecalfe took 6th, and Jon Keplin of Belcourt took 8th.

In the Ladies Breakaway; it was Eskie Heart who won the championship buckle, and she was followed by Shausta Blodgett of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Maylee Heart won 4th place. Jessee Vigen came in 6th. Bailey Chase 7th, Hailey Vigen 8th, Verna Hicks 9th, and Megan Danks was in the top ten for her efforts.

In Junior Breakaway, it was Bailey Chase with a third-place finish, Shannoah Danks with 4th place and Arena Delorme in 5th place, two riders from the local area, who placed well. Maize Two

Bears took 8th.

In Junior Barrel Racing, Bailey Chase was fourth place, Arena Delorme right behind in 5th place, Shannoah Danks in 6th, Nizhoni Davis in 7th and Taysia Hall came in 8th.

“I feel that everyone enjoyed themselves, and the turnout was really good,” said Baker.