§ 54-41-02 — Significant elements of coat of arms

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 arrowhead forms the shield of the coat of arms and symbolizes the "Sioux 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 States, 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
Lewis 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 LaVerendrye, a French
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 purchase. 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.