America's Byways® Press Room
October 1, 2007 - Tom Bodett Hears Stories about the Native American Scenic Byway

In this episode, Tom Bodett interviews Roseanne LaRouche and Pam Ternes from the Native American Scenic Byway in North and South Dakota.

Following is a complete transcript of the interview. Download the audio below, or receive new episodes in your music software by subscribing to the podcast.

Tom

Thanks for downloading this Podcast. What you’re about to hear is a true story—a story of American culture, history, and beauty. I’m Tom Bodett, and this is America’s Byways.

Pam

My name is Pam Ternes.

Roseanne

My name is Roseanne LaRoche. I’d like to just say a few words about the Native American Scenic Byway, which is probably about 357-miles long, that runs through the state of North Dakota and South Dakota. Vast plains, many, many animals, uh, wild animals. I guarantee you, once you drive, you’ll see something, whether it’s a Prairie Dog or a rabbit, coyote, Pronghorn deer. You name it you can see it.

Pam

The National Native American Scenic Byway, through all four reservations, follows the Missouri River, and so there are many unique areas, including the high plains, the, rolling hills, some Badlands areas, archeology sites. It’s…I’d say that we are unique because we have every one of the intrinsic qualities that are required by the National Scenic Byways. Archeological sites, natural sites… Some of our areas have never been developed. Many of our areas have never been developed through the natural plains. Recreational sites along Lake Oahe, the Missouri River… We have the scenic sites, the vistas, and the…the Badlands. And the historic and cultural… it… Actually, historic and cultural are one and the same because it’s really hard to differentiate the… the historic and… and culture, whether it’s Native American culture or the history of the settlers that came to our… to our area and stayed.

One of our areas that we are…we have been focusing on is nature trail, for hiking and biking, but what we’re doing a little different is we’re interpreting not only the natural plants that are…that are there, but we’re interpreting and sharing the story of their Native American uses for those plants. And those, the Native American use has…is still being used, and still being taught on our reservation. We teach college students and high school students with summer camps and actual curriculum-based programs about the uses of our plants and medicinal uses.

I took the class a couple of years ago and I…it was…it was actually a summer vacation. I…it was actually the best summer vacation I had had, and taken an ethnobotany class. And I learned the uses of Echinacea. I used — learned the uses of making teas and tinctures and decoctions and how to make salves. And it was wonderful. It’s a wonderful experience, and we welcome people to take that class in the summer and come and spend a few weeks at our tribal community colleges that offer different programs along our byway.

The Native American Scenic Byway… all four of us are considered as an extension, but we all have our own unique stories. However, we do believe that it’s an opportunity for each of us to continue to share each other’s story as the people journey along the byway.

Tom

We’ve just heard another story from America’s Byways. I’m Tom Bodett. Travel well, act right, safe home.

Podcast_NativeAmerican.mp3
MPEG Audio (4.3 MB)

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• 2007 (5 articles)