Rather than personally expounding my perceptions of the exhibit, I thought I'd simply share resources to learn more. Explore. Read. Reflect. Experience. Support Dakota events.
This list is not complete or exhaustive but a good place to start... (All programs are at the MN History Center unless marked with *).
MN History Center exhibit: View original documents, photos
Open June 30 2012 to June 30, 2013
Admission to the exhibit is included with regular History Center admission of $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and Minnesota Historical Society members. Free for all ages Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.
Call for special group tour rates, 651-259-3003.
St Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) / Healing Minnesota Stories
Take a sacred site tour
Invite a guest speaker
Attend the fall SPIN series on Healing MN Stories this October
View Dakota 38 movie
Help serve at Dakota led commemorative events this fall
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
INTERACTIVE HISTORY WEBSITE (under construction)
ONLINE CLASS for Grades 9-12 (debut fall 2012)
WEBSITES
Bdote Memory Map
Worksheets to use while viewing the Bdote Memory Map (answers in red)
- KAPOSIA
- BDOTE
- MISSISSIPPI RIVER
- MINNEHAHA CREEK AND MINNEHAHA FALLS
- CLOUDY WATERS
- MINNESOTA RIVER
- PIKE ISLAND
Dakota Trials
PROGRAMS/EXHIBITS/FILMS
July 14: *Program "Causes of the War" Host John Labatte. At Fort Ridgely 1, 2:30 PM
July 15:*Program: "Dakota Prisoner of War Letters" At Oak Grove Presbyterian, Bloomington 2 PM
In the wake of the Dakota War of 1862, Dakota men imprisoned at Davenport, Iowa wrote letters to relatives in their own language.150 years later, their voices have been recovered in a book of translations made by two of their descendants, Dr. Clifford Canku and Rev. Michael Simon (MHS Press, Nov 2012). Dr. John Peacock, who wrote the introduction for the book, will discuss the letters. Dr. Peacock is Professor of Native American Studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, and is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation.
July 17: Bdote Sacred Site Tour 5:30-8:30 PM
July 18: Program "Mni sota Makoce (muNee shota maCoatchay) Land of Minnesota 7 PM
Host / author Mary Lether (associate professor at Saint Cloud State University)
July 21: *Program "Why Treaties Matter" Host Tom Ross. At Fort Ridgely 1 PM
July 25: Program "We Are Still Here" Host Dakota artist/poet/scholar Gwen Westerman 7 PM
July 26: Program “‘Our Children Are Dying With Hunger:’ Malnutrition, Morbidity and Mortality on the Sioux Reservation in 1862.” 7:00 PM Turner Hall, New Ulm, Minnesota. " Host Carrie Reber Zeman.
July 26: Program "Mary Butler Renville narrative of Indian captivity" Host historian Carrie Zeman 7 PM Turner Hall, New Ulm
July 30: *Program "Dakota Conflict" Host Dean Urdahl At Hubbard County Historical Society 7:30-9:00 PM
Aug 1-Aug 30: *Exhibit "Commemorating Controversy" At St Peter Public Library
Aug 1-Sept 20: *Exhibit "Dakota War of 1862" At New Ulm Brown County History Center
August 4: *Program "Christian Dakota" Host John Labatte. At Fort Ridgely 1, 2:30 PM
August 11: Bus Tour 1-5PM Register by Aug 3 (320-693-2354) Repeated on Aug 12.
August 14: Healing Minnesota Stories Bdote Sacred Site Tour 5:30-8:30 PM
Aug 15-17: "Legacy of Survival" COMING HOME 1862-2012: 150 Years Later. A celebration and remembrance of Dakota Oyate survival. "The purpose of this event is not to retell the events that led up to the U.S.-Dakota conflict that took place starting in August 17th and ended with the hanging of the 38 Dakota on December 26th, 1862. Our history and culture does not end there. Since 1862 Dakota people, have faced and outlasted the efforts of the United States to cleanse us of our culture. This event will highlight and celebrate the efforts of the Dakota people to hold onto our culture."
For non-Dakota, it is most appropriate to attend Friday events.
Aug 16: Film: "The Indian System" Host filmmaker Sheldon Wolfchild along with historians Mark Diedrich and Dr. David Nichols Location: Martin Luther College 7 PM
Aug 18-19: *Chaske Cikala Wacipi (powwow) in Shakopee
Aug 18: *Program "Causes of the War" Host John Labatte. At Fort Ridgely 1, 2:30 PM
Aug 19: Healing/Wiping of the Tears Ceremony at Ness Church,
Litchfield 1 PM (Burial site of the first 5 settler casualties of the war 150 years ago this day in 1862)
Aug 20-26: *Commemoration Events in New Ulm. Host Brown County Historical Society
Click on days for the daily schedule of programs, tours and exhibits
Aug 20
Author Scott Berg "Lincoln, Little Crow and the War" 1 PM
Historian Dr Gwen Westerman 2 PM "Choosing Sides" 2 PM
Aug 21 Program: Afternoon with the Authors: 12-2 PM
Loren Dean Boutin; John Christgau; Lois Glewwe; Collette A. Hyman; Michael Keigan; John LaBatte; Corinne Marz; Lowell Ueland; and Jeff Williamson.
Program: Historian Dr. Gerhard Sollbach: "Why did they come?" German Emigration 7 PM
Aug 22 “‘Our Children Are Dying With Hunger:’ Malnutrition, Morbidity and Mortality on the Sioux Reservation in 1862.” 1 PM Redwood Falls Library Host Carrie Reber Zeman.
Aug 23 Roundtable on US Dakota War 10AM Turner Hall Curtis Dahlin, CorinneMarz, Stephen Osman, Don Heinrich Tolzmann, moderated by Daniel Hosington.
Professor Howard Vogel 1PM
Sheldon Wolfchild "The Indian System" 3 PM
Don Heinrich Tolzmann "War on the Home Front" 7 PM
Aug 24 War Symposium 9 AM-3PM Presenters include Dr.Mary Lethert Wingerd, Dr. Elden Lawrence, Dr. Zabelle Stodola, Walt Bachman, Dr. Julie Humann Anderson
Aug 25 Aug 26
Aug 25: Pipestone National Monument 75th Anniversary 8 AM - 8 PM
Aug 26: *Program "Dakota War Trials of 1862 -- Kangaroo court or Merited Justice?" At Pond Dakota Mission. In the war's aftermath, more men were convicted and sentenced to death by a military court in Minnesota than in any other group of trials in American history. Host Walt Bachman, a Minnesota trial lawyer for 22 years, will discuss the prosecutions of almost 400 Dakota men. Were the trials a sham or fair and just? Come and judge for yourself.
Aug 31-Sept 3: *Birch Coulee Unity Days Encampment
Sept 1-Sept 29: *Exhibit "Commemorating Controversy" At Fort Snelling
Take walking tour. Call 877-411-4123 for recorded messages
Sept 4: Ed Program :"Everything you wanted to know about Indians but were afraid to ask" with Host Anton Treuer
Sept 7-9: *Mendota Wacipi (powwow) at St Peter's Catholic Church grounds in Mendota
Saturdays in September (8,15,22,29) 10-4 PM Tour Henry Sibley house & Alexander Ramsey house. Learn about their respective roles in 1862
Sept 8 *Ed Program: Powow Etiquette 10 AM Blue Earth County Heritage Center
Sept 11: Ed Program: Dakota Family History Class 6-7:30 PM Learn how to use MHS resources
Sept 13: Ed Program: University of St Thomas: The Truth Shall Make You Free: A Dakota Perspective on Genocide,the Dakota-U.S. War of 1862, and Truth-Telling Presentation and Conversation with Chris Mato Nunpa 12-2 PM including buffet lunch
Sept 13: Healing Minnesota Stories Bdote Sacred Site Tour 5:30-8:30 PM
Sept 14-16 9th Annual Great Dakota Gathering & Homecoming Winona MN
Sept 18: 1862 Exhibit Educator Open House Visit the History Center for free
Sept 21-23: *Mahkato Wacipi (powwow) Mankato, MN
Sept 22: *Tour Program: Governor Alexander Ramsey in 1862 At the Ramsey house discussing the role Ramsey played in the politics and events prior to, during and after the war. 10 AM - 4 PM
Sept 22: *Descendents Friendship Gathering At Pond Dakota Mission, Bloomington 12-4
Sept 29: Ed: Dakota Family Day Noon-4 Showcasing contemporary Dakota crafts and culture
Oct 6: *Ed Program: Discovering Dakota Culture & Heritage 10 AM Blue Earth Heritage Center
Oct 11: *Ed Program: University of St Thomas: The Spirit and Culture of a People: Reviving the Dakota Language. Presentation and Conversation with C̣aƞtemaza (Neil McKay) 12-2 PM
Oct 13: *Art Exhibit: "We are Here"or "De Unkipyepi" At James J Hill House, St. Paul. Contemporary American Indian artists responding to the anniversary of the War.
Oct 18: Bdote Sacred Site Tour 5:30-8:30 PM
Oct 15: SPIN series: Healing Minnesota Stories Film Dakota 38. Host Jim Miller, Dakota 38 ride founder 7 PM Hamline
Oct 17: Bethel University Chapel. Peter Twist
Oct 17: Film: Dakota 38. University of St Thomas, McNeely Hall MCH 100 7:00 PM
Host Jim Miller, Dakota 38 ride founder
Oct 18: Healing Minnesota Stories Bdote Sacred Site Tour 5:30-8:30 PM
Oct 22: SPIN series: Healing Minnesota Stories Host Gabrielle Strong, JB Weston
Oct 23: Film Dakota 38: Bethel University Host Jim Miller
Oct 23: Ed Program: "Minnesota newcomers and First Peoples" 7 PM Host professors Kathleen Conzen and Betty Bergland for a discussion of the relationships—good and bad, but always complicated—between German immigrants, Norwegian immigrants and the Ojibwe and Dakota peoples of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.
Oct 26: *Ed Symposium: "US Dakota War" William Mitchell College of Law, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, host this all-day conference on legal issues arising from the war
Oct 29: SPIN Series Healing Minnesota Stories Host Syndey Beane, Art Owen
Nov 3: *Film "Dakota War of 1862" 10 AM Blue Earth County Heritage Center
Nov 5 SPIN Series Healing Minnesota Stories TBA
Nov 7-13: *"Manipi Hena Owasin Wicunkiksuyapi" (We Remember All Those Who Walked).
Nov 7-13: *"Manipi Hena Owasin Wicunkiksuyapi" (We Remember All Those Who Walked).
Dakota Commemorative march from Lower Sioux Agency (Morton MN) to Fort Snelling
Nov 17: Book Release Event: "Dakota Prisoner of War Letters" Michael Simon, Clifford Canku
Nov 17: Book Release Event: "Dakota Prisoner of War Letters" Michael Simon, Clifford Canku
Dec 1: *Ed Program: Discovering Dakota Culture. 10 AM Blue Earth
Dec 9-Dec 26: Dakota 38 horse ride, Crow Creek to Mankato
Jan 19: Ed Program: "War within War: President Abraham Lincoln and the Dakota War" 10 AM
June 30, 2013 Education Day
PLACES TO TOUR: www.visitmnhistory.org for hours and admission
Call 888-601-3010 to listen to pre-recorded history message about these locations either from your home or ideally after stopping at these locations
Bdote area tour - lists amenities at each of the sites and includes maps of each of the sites.
Birch Coulee Battlefield (near Morton MN) 507-697-6321
Camp Release (near Montevideo MN)
Fort Ridgely (near Fairfax MN) 507-426-7888
Harkin Store (9 miles west of New Ulm MN) 507-354-8666
Lac qui Parle Mission (near Montevideo MN) 320-269-7636
Lower Sioux Agency (near Redwood Falls MN) 507-697-6321
Pipestone National Monument
Upper Sioux Agency (near Granite Falls MN)
Traverse des Sioux (near St Peter MN) 507-934-2160
WW. Mayo House (near Le Seuer MN) 507-665-3250
