Coat of arms of North Dakota
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of North Dakota is probably the most obscure symbol of North Dakota
. Though nominally created for use by the state government and National Guard
units, the arms have seen little use since their creation in 1957. An image of the coat of arms is seen on the flag of the Governor of North Dakota and a short discussion of its use can be found at the North Dakota state government website.
) of the coat of arms thus;
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. Though nominally created for use by the state government and National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
units, the arms have seen little use since their creation in 1957. An image of the coat of arms is seen on the flag of the Governor of North Dakota and a short discussion of its use can be found at the North Dakota state government website.
Heraldic description
Section 54-41-01 of the North Dakota Century Code specifies the design (blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
) of the coat of arms thus;
- Device: On an Indian arrowhead point to base or a bend vert charged with three mullets of the first, in base a fleur-de-lis of the second.
- Crest: On a wreath or and azure, a sheaf of three arrows argent armed and flighted gules behind a stringed bow fessways or with grip of the second (gules).
- Motto: Strength from the soil.
Allusions
The allusions made in the arms are laid down in section 54-41-02 NDCC:- The colors of yellow gold and green are indicative of the great agricultural state of North Dakota and has particular reference to ripening grain and the abundant grazing areas. The Indian arrowheadArrowheadAn arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
forms the shield of the coat of arms and symbolizes the "SiouxSiouxThe Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
State." The three stars denote the trinity of government; legislative, executive, and judicial. Each star in the bend is given the heraldic value of thirteen which signifies the thirteen original colonies of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the cumulative numerical value of the three stars indicates that North Dakota was the thirty-ninth state admitted to the Union. The stars also allude to the history of the territory under three foreign flags. Three stars are borne upon the coat of arms of Meriwether LewisMeriwether LewisMeriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
of the Lewis and Clark expedition and also on the coat of arms of Lord Selkirk, head of the first permanent settlement in this state. The fleur-de-lis alludes to La Vérendrye, a Canadian explorer who was the first known white man to visit the territory of this state. The blue and gold wreath in the crest reflects the history of the territory as part of the Louisiana purchaseLouisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. The crest which shall constitute the military crest of the state of North Dakota is a motif taken from the state seal and to the Sioux Indian tribes signifies mighty warriors.
Limits of use
Section 54-41-03 limits use of the symbol to the following:- The Governor of North DakotaGovernor of North DakotaThe Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
- The North Dakota National GuardUnited States National GuardThe National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
- Departments and agencies of the state of North Dakota
- North Dakota veterans organizations
- Officially recognized North Dakota educational institutions, systems, or divisions thereof
- Recognized North Dakota "patriotic organizations"