Tribal Flag Songs: Arikara, Hidatsa, Dakota

Tribal Flag Songs are the American Indian version of the National Anthem, their Star Spangled Banner, in which they pledge their support to the United States of America, or up north: the Dominion of Canada. All flag songs originated in a pan-Indian fashion right after World War Two. Without going into detail, most everyone knows the Flag Song opens up most cultural activities in Indian communities. As the Flag of the United States of America is paraded into the assembly all participants stand, men remove their hats and some place their right hand over their hearts. However few realize that the most prolific of all the tribal flag songs comes from the Arikara Nation living on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The Arikara are one of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), headquartered at New Town, North Dakota. No matter where you go you will probably hear the tune of the Arikara Flag Song used in diverse communities across Indian country.