Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center

10/01/2026

"You Are Still Ours..."

Today was a day of remembrance across Turtle Island, it was powerful to see these shares from across the land.

I'll share Chairman Jamie Azure's words, as it speaks volumes, and share some photos of other posts as well.

"Today’s National Day of Remembrance carries an especially powerful meaning for the Turtle Mountain people.
Tonight we walked for our lost. We heard the drums.
Special Thank you to Connie Baker for her beautiful prayer and explanation of why we wore orange.
Today we remember the Native children who were taken from their homes, families, language and culture through the Indian boarding school system. We honor the survivors, their descendants, and especially those children who never made it home. 🧡
This year, that history has come even closer to home.
Just this week, an investigation identified 14 Indigenous girls who died while attending the Good Shepherd Industrial School in Milwaukee between 1884 and 1891. At least 11 of those young ladies were from Turtle Mountain.
They were not simply numbers in a government record. They were Turtle Mountain girls. They were daughters, sisters and relatives. They were ours.
Tonight, a community walked in remembrance of these young ladies and all of our young ones who remain lost. More than a century later, their lives are being remembered, their names are being spoken, and their stories are being brought back into the light.
That is what today means. Remembrance is not only about looking back. It is about acknowledging the truth, honoring those who endured, and making sure our children and future generations know the stories of those who came before them.
For those who survived, we honor you. For those who never made it home, we will continue searching, speaking your names and telling your stories. And to these Turtle Mountain young ladies: more than a century may have passed, but your people have not forgotten you. You are still Turtle Mountain, and you are still ours.

Every Child Matters. 🧡

Thank you to the amazing organizers TM Community Innovation, Research, and Development Department and Tm-sdpi Diabetes-Program"

09/29/2026

📰‘Muckazin’ (My Cousin)
Belcourt High School Newspaper, 1977–1978

The Muckazin, pronounced like “my cousin”, see below, was a student newspaper published by Belcourt High School during the 1977–1978 school year. Written, edited, photographed, and produced by students, it captured everyday life in the school and surrounding Turtle Mountain community.

Its pages featured school sports, student activities, editorials, community news, photographs, humor, and advertisements from local Belcourt and Rolla businesses. Many familiar family names can also be found throughout the newspaper.

Today, The Muckazin offers a unique glimpse into Turtle Mountain life nearly 50 years ago and serves as an important record of the students, families, businesses, and stories of that time.

A piece of our history, written by the students who lived it. 📰

_______________
*Moon koozin — referring to a male cousin.🩵
Ma koozinn — referring to a female cousin.🩷

For a simple English-style phonetic guide, moon koozin is roughly “moon koo-ZAN/koo-ZIN”, reflecting the French-derived cousin.

The Muckazin (a play on the Michif expression for “my cousin”)

Chi Miigwech (A Big Thank You)

09/22/2026

09/22/2026

On Wednesday, Sept 16th, the Heritage Center was proud to host a multitude of visitors from our local community to across the globe!

We were grateful for the opportunity to share the rich and unique cultures, history, and heritage of the Turtle Mountains with our guests.

Among those visiting were a group of international journalists:

Jacqui Agate — United Kingdom
Karin Cerny — Austria
Marco Berchi — Italy
Henrik Anderson — Denmark

Their visit was coordinated through the ND Commerce Department, Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker, North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, President Les Thomas and Executive Director, Stacey Tiger-LaCompte, in partnership with TMBCI Heritage Center staff, Danielle Wilkie, Trudy DeCoteau Larkins, and Cloee St. Claire, providing an opportunity to learn more about the traditions, stories, and living culture of the Turtle Mountain community.

Throughout the visit, our guests heard the sound of our drum and traditional singers, provided by Sloughfoot- Mark Hajicek and Ed Allery, enjoyed Metis fiddle music by Councilman Craig Lunday, and watched an exhibition by one of our young traditional dancers, dancing Jingle, Ms. Gracie Hajicek. They also had the special opportunity to sit with one of our elders, Ms. Brenda Slater, and listen as she shared her story and knowledge.

We extend our appreciation to everyone who helped make the visit meaningful, including Jamie Azure, Councilman Lynn Gourneau, for offering prayers and education, and Councilman Craig Lunday for sharing his talents on the fiddle and stories about Metis culture.

Although our time was brief, we were proud to welcome our guests and share a glimpse of Turtle Mountain with visitors from around the world. Opportunities like this allow us to continue our mission to preserve, promote, protect, and educate while sharing the stories, traditions, and culture that make Turtle Mountain home.

09/22/2026

Please consider stopping by the new, beautiful Round House tomorrow, Sept 23, 2025, from 3-5 to tour the building, ask any questions, and enter for a chance to win a small giveaway!

05/12/2026

Did the BIA enrollment office change phone numbers? The 6141 number doesn't work.

05/04/2026

The Heritage Center hosted some participants of the International Round Up, held in Medora this year, for a tour of the Heritage Center, Skydancer Casino, and the Turtle Island Waterpark. We had visitors from Tour Operators in Germany, Sweden, and Italy!
They learned a little about our culture, some history, and they parted with some gifts!
We all walked over and had a wonderful meal at Fire's Edge.
Thank you to Randy, Cheryl, and Fire's Edge staff. The Indian Tacos were delicious!!!
Also a huge thank you to ND Tourism Global Marketing Manager, Fred Walker, and all of the help from Stacey LaCompte with ND Native Tourism Alliance, and Les Thomas, on our board at the Heritage Center, NDNTA President and Tourism Liason with TMBCI.
Wonderful teamwork and what a great visit we had!

04/22/2026

Due to water issues beyond our control, we will be closed for the remainder of the day. We apologize for any inconvenience and will re-open at 8am tomorrow morning.

04/15/2026

Needles and Thread, Oh My!
Stop in if you need more!
XL Spools are $50.