When the International Peace Garden celebrates its 75th anniversary next month, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa will be a part of the festivities.

The Turtle Mountain Reservation is located just 25 miles from the Garden, and a group of tribal members has been putting together presentations for the event.

That will include story telling by tribal elders and a presentation by Dan Jerome, a tribal member who was the first Native American to serve in the state legislature and is well known for his flute-making and playing.

A member of the group putting together the tribal portion of the event says it's a chance to tell the story of tribes across North Dakota...

(Les Thomas, Turtle Mountain Tribe) "Our goal is to promote the different cultures of the Native Americans here in North Dakota. Since we're the closest tribe, it affected us deeply when they made the Peace Garden and when the 49th parallel went in it kind of separated us too because some of our relatives are a part of Canada and some are part of here."


Thomas says preparations for the 75th anniversary celebration at the Peace Garden have been going on for well over a year.

The event will be on July 14th at the Garden, located about 15 miles north of Dunseith. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list