Culture

​Holiday spiders goats and pigs:

December 19th, 2024

SHSND delves into their ornament collection

By Jenny Yearous

history@nd.gov

In 2017 we received Christmas ornaments from the North Dakota Former Governors’ Residence. The ornaments were gifts from local chapters of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society of North DakotaThree Crowns Swedish American AssociationSons of Norway and the Ukrainian Cultural Institute. Starting in 1985, different ethnic-themed Christmas trees were decorated at the residence as each year another group…

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​Yuletide memories from days of yore

December 19th, 2024

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

As the holiday season approaches, I wish to extend Yuletide best wishes and a special “Weihnachten” greeting to you and your family. I would like to share with you some Christmas memories from our Germans from Russia community. Please email or send me your Christmas memories.

A Christmas tradition in many Germans from Russia homes was halvah. This Turkish confection is made of pressed sesame seeds and honey. Curt Renz recalls his father…

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​What is it about serial killers?

December 18th, 2024

An exclusive Q&A with Dr. Scott Bonn

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Dr. Scott Bonn is a renowned criminologist and serial killer expert. He is a professor, a best-selling author and he also travels the country discussing America's fascination with serial killers and true crime. In January, he’s bringing his 90-minute show to Fargo and Bismarck followed by a Q&A session, so get your questions ready.

During High Plains Reader’s exclusive Q&A opportunity, Dr. Bonn revealed a number…

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Whitestone Hill: Making it Right

November 23rd, 2024

By Winona LaDuke

winona@winonaladuke.com

There’s not really a word for reconciliation, it's said in our language. There’s a word for making it right. To talk about reconciliation in terms of the relationship between Indigenous people and North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota, would assume that there was a good relationship to begin with. That’s a stretch.

There is a word for making it right: gwayakochigemin. That’s what we must try and do. Gwayakizhichigemin: making it right.

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​Folklore Haunting the Former Governor’s Mansion

October 17th, 2024

By Johnathan Campbell 

history@nd.gov

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I’d share three mysterious — and mildly creepy folktales — that have been shared about the Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site, which housed 20 chief executives between 1893 and 1960. Folktales are one of those things that both confound and delight historic house interpreters when their visitors engage them with a statement or question that they believe with all their heart to be…

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​The HPR Spooky 13

October 16th, 2024

By HPR Staff

Halloween is upon us and we did our best to share some spooky and altogether ooky attractions as our top picks for the season. We included a 13 pack of haunts with a couple extra bonuses if you’re willing to go the distance.

We stirred up some of our old favorites as well as some historic haunts for the occasion. Don’t blame us if you have to sleep with the lights on.

Paranormal Investigations

October 4-26

Bonanzaville, West Fargo

Staff and guests have experienced…

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A man with 93 grandchildren: The memories of Joseph Vetter

October 10th, 2024

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

On October 11 and 12, Dr. Ann Braaten and I are presenting at the Regina and District Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ann will speak on Friday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. Her talk will be titled,“Traditional Textiles and Clothing of the Germans from Russia Immigrants.” And I will speak on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m., discussing “The Genealogical, Historical & Cultural Information…

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​Reflections from the prairie

September 19th, 2024

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

I was pleased to visit with many colleagues and at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention in Mandan in July, and at the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Convention in Oklahoma City in August. There were many excellent workshops, displays, and presentations.

In July, Leo Rung of Munich, Germany, visited the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection to research his Hopfauf family that settled near Fallon/Flasher,…

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​From Ellis Island to the prairie

August 15th, 2024

By Michael Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

As I reflect back on July, I want to share a USA Today article from July 3, 1986, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. It has been 138 years since 1886 when immigrants, including the Germans from Russia, arrived at Ellis Island, New York. Allan Neuharth, a native of Eureka, South Dakota., was the founder of USA Today. His ancestors emigrated from the Glueckstal District villages in South Russia to South Dakota, in the…

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​Four men, three horses

August 15th, 2024

America’s first extreme sport live at Chippewa Downs

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Indian relay races have often been referred to as America’s first extreme sport. On the weekend of September 7 and 8, the relays are coming to Chippewa Downs in Belcourt, North Dakota, one of the two remaining horse tracks in North Dakota.

Though this is definitely not your standard horse race, the feats of horsemanship and athleticism is an artform in itself. It’s all done bareback —meaning no…

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