The Roots of the Root Cellars on Standing Rock

Several years ago, there was resurgent interest in root cellars for storing produce in the communities. Since then, the Cannon Ball cellar has been refurbished by the NDSU Extension garden project. The remains of other cellars can still be seen in Porcupine, Wakpala and Bullhead communities. These cellars were part of a project by local people working under what was known as the Indian Civilian Conservation Corps or Indian CCC. The Indian CCC did projects on reservations by employing local people from the mid 1930s and early 1940s. Recently, we discovered photos of their construction posted by the National Archives. Each one is a distinctive construction utilizing local materials and the ingenuity of local people at that time.

The photo above appears to be the construction of the Cannon Ball cellar.

This hobbit like structure can still be seen in Bullhead, South Dakota

This may be the Porcupine structure. All that remains are the rock walls. Although, it may be one of the Little Eagle, Fort Yates or Kenel cellars that are no longer in existence.