MANDAREE, N.D. – A special ground blessing ceremony took place Oct. 3 on allotted lands northwest of Mandaree – something that has never been done before at a potential drilling site for oil.
Perry Brady, Three Affiliated Tribes tribal historic preservation officer, has been reviewing potential oil well site locations for the past 16 months. Brady ensures there are no disturbances of tribal cultural or possible historic ceremonial sites on or near the potential drilling sites.
The ceremony was a unique gathering of the Seismic Land Management Inc., the company that handles the leasing process for seismic exploration; CGG Veritas, which gathers the seismic data; and staff members from the office of Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Marcus Wells Jr.
Brady explained during his past months of examining and reviewing sites that he does not recall the traditional tribal practices of offering special prayers and blessings to the Earth before any type of digging or exploration began. “It has always been our Indian way of life to give thanks and offer prayers to nature and Mother Earth before we take something from the Earth,” he said.
In keeping with tribal practices and traditions, Brady said he felt it was important to go ahead and offer a prayer at the particular site once he confirmed there were no findings of tribal cultural or historic disturbances.
The actual location of the ground blessing is a part of preparation for mineral exploration by CGG Veritas Land Inc. of Houston. Brady expressed his appreciation to Seismic Land Management Inc. and CGG Veritas for allowing him to offer prayers and also for respecting the local beliefs and traditional practices of the people of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes.
