On March 31, 2021, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (MHA) contacted WSB to coordinate and construct a project for the grounds and structure where they hold powwows. The group was set to hold their annual powwow, a sacred and traditional community gathering, in two months, but their existing structure had storm damage and was severely overgrown due to the lack of use during the pandemic.
WSB provided coordination, construction project management, client representation and site considerations on the project. Architecture, planning and engineering firm TSP designed the structure and Silver Fox served as the contractor. The project required close coordination, collaboration and buy-in from all parties which included WSB, TSP, Silver Fox, Mervin Packineau and three affiliated tribe council members from the Northeast segment to meet the hard deadline. Staff members worked around the clock – up to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week – to make sure the powwow structure and grounds were operational and ready to go by June 23.
