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For lecture 3 we got to discuss the topic that i find to be the most exciting about the great plains, the white people first exploring the plains. We started with the Spanish conquistador going out onto the plains on and their motives, more gold then glory. Although they each had their own agenda when it came to exploring the plains, the Castilians found it to be very much like their home country and spoke fondly of the land, flora and fauna. The next whites onto the great plains were the French fur traders, unlike the Spanish, the French tried to stay friendly with the Indians and used their time there to trade with the plains indians. Having lived in Velva North Dakota I am very familiar with the name Verendrye, Verendrye Electric Company and nearby ghost town of Verendrye ND, but did not know much about their history or their explorations in the North Dakota area. Lastly we discuss the Corp of Discovery and their trek up the Missouri River. Obviously everyone from North Dakota is going to have heard of Lewis and Clark and i assume lots of us have been drilled with information about them growing up in the state.

One part of the lecture really captured my imagination, the Welsh Indians. This story is ancient Welsh folklore that had its roots in midevil Wales. The story goes that Madoc was a Welsh Prince that discovered America in 1170 to escape the fighting in Wales. He discovered America after sailing west with a small group of boats, he returned to Wales to gather settlers and then again sailed for America never to be seen again. It is speculated that Madoc traveled from Florida or Alabama and eventually settled on the plains along the Missouri River where the group eventually intermarried and was absorbed into the Mandan people. Its a fascinating story with 1 minor error, that the Welsh were actually Vikings and all the stories about Vikings in this area a millinium ago are true, hopefully everyone will apologize to Olaf Ohman for doubting that his Runestone was a fraud.

Sutton