FARGO (KFGO) - The arrest of a man at a little known Native American sweat lodge in southwest Fargo will lead to cultural sensitivity training in the police dept. The man was arrested after police responded to a call of a fire at the site. Mayor Tim Mahoney says there was a misunderstanding between the man and the officer.
"We got some new people on the police force and they don't know about the sweat lodge, the older guys do, but this is, he really didn't know how a sweat lodge works or what happens so we're gonna go through what this is about and what's happening out there", Mahoney said. "Chief Dave Todd has agreed that we're gonna do that and we're going to get some signage up," Mahoney added.
"The other issue out there is there's really no signage up there, if you look at the site you wouldn't be able to tell that this is a Native American area of worship," Mahoney concluded.
The sweat lodge is on city-owned property next to a public works salt and sand storage building. Mahoney says the man arrested has been released from jail and a disorderly conduct charge will not be filed.
A sweat lodge is a covered dome, sometimes a tent-type structure, used in Native American cultural ceremonies. Willow branches are used and water is poured over heated rocks to produce steam.
The sweat lodge in Fargo has been at the same location for a number of years.