In May of 2003 Patrick Atkinson founded The Crying Hill® Foundation as a North Dakota-registered non-profit corporation to focus public attention on the need to preserve Crying Hill as the sacred land many people consider it to be.
A cross-sector community coalition of concerned people, churches, and institutions with a history of support for the Native American heritage was invited to join The Crying Hill Foundation as Honorary Board Members and Trustees. The members of this coalition are not financial contributors to the Crying Hill Preservation effort.
The Crying Hill Foundation is not set up to solicit or receive donations, an no financial donations have been received. The individuals and regionally-wide churches and groups that make up The Crying Hill Foundation are people and groups who share our interest in seeing Crying Hill preserved as a cultural and visual vantage point for the common good, and because of its important historical role in the birth and development of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, as well as for being the birthing grounds and cradle of contemporary Mandan, North Dakota.
Even more 18th century photographs of the daily lives of the Mandan, Lakota, and Arikara Native Americans who lived in the vicinity of Crying Hill, Mandan, North Dakota:
Scattered Corn Woman, of the Mandans
Mandan ready for Okipe buffalo dance pipe
Mandan Indian bathing in the Missouri River
Mandan record of tribe as custodians of sacred turtle drum
Packs Wolf as Numak Mahana, of the Mandans
To keep the Crying Hill legend, name, and heritage from being abused or exploitated, the name Crying Hill has been registered by Patrick Atkinson as a protected trademark under the United States Patent and Trademark Act laws. Any heritage or civic-minded individuals, groups, or municipalities interested in using the Crying Hill name for business purposes should contact us for legal authorization prior to use.
