The Dakota 38+2 Hangings of Sioux warriors, including a Caucasian man on December 26th, 1862 while the aftermath of 265 others, were tortured inhumanely until death were ordered by President Abraham Lincoln with a political agenda.
Charged for treason and receiving a 5-minute military court with no interpreter present and carried out by people filled with ignorance, racism and hate and the remaining children elders men and women were forced to walk, continually watching their families die to relocate across the neighbouring states.
The Minnesota Historical Society website has information on the historical story of the largest US mass execution because gold was found on the sacred Black Hills.
The Great Sioux Nation refused to move or sign over the land that forced them unto the Badlands already, where law limited them hunting and a treaty filled with broken promises of starvation and quiet punishment.
In 1858, a Sioux leader, Chief Little Crow, who believed in the legal justice system, journeyed and spoke to President Lincoln about the inhumane treatment of the Sioux people suffering and dying.
For four years Chief Little Crow continued to watch the children elders men and women suffering from pain and hunger.
Leaving Chief Little Crow with no other choice, he led the warriors into battle. The justified anger that this created has lead to a dream given to a Sioux Vietnam Veteran, Jim Miller that has been honoured since 2005.
This Spiritual ride of 330 miles from Lower Brules South Dakota to Mankuto, Minnesota has attracted many to relearn the history and find a spiritual awakening within themselves about the importance of the connection to the Earth and the beauty of a culture that continues to live today.
The movement is engaging youth, who have started a Dakota run and have started to learn and appreciate their history and culture.
In 1987 Reconciliation Park was completed in Mankuto, Minnesota and an honourary key was given to Jim Miller, founder of the Wokiksuye Memorial Horseback Ride to reconnect community. The park has a memorial scroll, a limestone sculpture of a bison, benches, and plantings.
Planning to Make the Park a Living Monument Attraction
There’s also a map showing the locations of other historic markers and monuments in the community created in the spirit of reconciliation between the two cultures. City crews will be adding walkways to that area and preparing it for the limestone sculpture of a pair of Dakota moccasins. Local sculptor Tom Miller, who has begun work on the sculpture, was the artist commissioned to create the white bison.
It is the hope that all Sioux tribes will carry the Staff and awaken the nation of a beautiful culture. Resilience!
Amanda Perreault
Reporting from Thunder Bay in the heart of Turtle Island.
