Near Garrison in McLean County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Nightwalker's Butte

Indian Hills

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

1. Nightwalker's Butte Marker

Caption: (left edge) Modern replica of a hand-hewn palisade or fence, similar to the one that would have protected the village.

Inscription. On the flat-topped butte across the valley, once stood and Hidatsa village of 28 small earthlodges, enclosed within a high, defensive fence, or palisade of posts that followed the bluff edge. The village was named after Nightwalker, a Hidatsa leader and son of a Waterbuster Clan Chief. Oral history says the quarrelsome chief often took his people away from the main villages at the Knife River, to live in these remote areas of the badlands. On inaccessible butte tops overlooking the Missouri and Little Missouri Rivers, the families built highly defensible villages. Nightwalker's village, sometimes referred to as Nightwalker's- Butte-In-The-Bullpasture, because of its location in a tribal bull pasture, is one of several associated with Nightwalker's family and was likely occupied sometime in the later 1700s or early 1800a.
Nightwalker got his mane from the Hidatsa word "See-to=be-de-ish." which is occasionally rendered as "He-Who=Walks-at-Twilight," or as Duskwalkier. The powers of Nightwalker's family were associated with the twilight, a time related to the powers of the wolves, powerful creatures that move about

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the landscape at dusk, An important set of Hidatsa religious beliefs and practices of the early 1800s are developed from the experiences and leadership of Nightwalker's family.
From this upland rim, you can see the village's placement above the surrounding landscape an excellent vantage point with far reaching views. and yet close to springs and rivulets in the coulees and not far from the river bottoms, where many village activities would have occurred, including water hauling, gardening, plant gathering, hunting, fishing, and wood collecting.

Erected by sIndian Hills Resort.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 47° 35.965′ N, 102° 5.689′ W. Marker is near Garrison, North Dakota, in McLean County. It can be reached from the intersection of 73rd Avenue NorthWest and 14th Street NorthWest. The marker is located on the Nux Baa Ga (meaning “All the People” in Arikara) Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Garrison ND 58540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Nightwalker's Butte Marker, on the left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

2. Nightwalker's Butte Marker, on the left

this marker is in North Dakota’s Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation,

in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,

in the Drift Prairie,

and on the Missouri Plateau.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Nightwalker's Butte (here, next to this marker); Lake Sakakawea (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sakakawea (about 500 feet away); Lewis & Clark (about 500 feet away); Geology (about 600 feet away); Contemporary Towns (approx. 0.2 miles away); Encampments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Four Bears Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Garrison.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 39 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 24, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.