Loren Yellowbird was recently honored for contributing to the growth of the state’s travel and tourism industry. Loren Yellowbird is a National Park Service ranger and an Arikara historian at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site since 2000. He works daily with the public to interpret the history of the trading post, at which his ancestors traded goods more than a century ago. As a historian, he manages the site bookstore, interprets the fort’s story and shares Native American culture with visitors. One of his best qualities is his enthusiasm and joy regarding the preservation and sharing of his native culture and language, as well as the culture of other tribes. During the winter of 2015-16, he served as a language advisor for the movie The Revenant. Yellowbird translated dialog into Arikara and other native languages, then trained the actors how to say the words correctly. In the months that followed, he brought actors to Fort Union to interact with visitors at one of the many living history weekends at the trading post. Whether he is working with elementary age school children or Hollywood actors, Yellowbird continues our welcoming heritage.
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