Saturday, April 13 was a beautiful sunny day to celebrate the return of spring, the return of sprouting native plants, and the return of migratory birds at the 3rd annual RETURN OF THE THUNDERBIRDS event! This cross-cultural community event, held at Lincoln’s Indian Center, Inc. was conceived by Spring Creek Prairie and cultural consultant, Renee Sans Souci, as a way to bring the community together and learn more about native culture and connect it to this important time of year through celebration and conversation.
This year’s event grew to over 500 attendees visiting over 30 vendor booths consisting of indigenous artists, local conservation partners, and community organizations. Highlights and new and exciting activities at the event were an amazing performance by the Many Moccasins Dance Troupe, live bird shows from Raptor Conservation Alliance, music of South America from Oscar Rios, special guest speakers like local author, Thomas C. Gannon, and a community collaborative art piece about our climate with local native artist Colleen New Holy, sponsored by the Lincoln Arts Council.
Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative
In cooperation with city and park partners, the Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative (UWP) has integrated native landscapes back into urban spaces. These prairie, woodland, and wetland enhancement practices are aimed at providing high quality habitat for our local bird and wildlife species, while encouraging community members to explore and learn about our local native ecosystem. Today, the Initiative has enrolled nearly 30 sites across the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot, totaling over 1,000 acres.
