Opinion

History: Law to banish Dakotas from Minnesota still on books

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

"Further online research revealed a similar, two-sided historical sign marking and sharing more information on Fort Dakota in the Dakota Territory. The closing comments on the sign stated, "The presence of Fort Dakota calmed tensions in the Big Sioux River Valley. It not only offered new settlers a sense of security, but also routinely fed hungry Dakota Indians who had been banished from their Minnesota homeland. Fort Dakota closed in 1869."

In the summer of 2009 I was on a summer vacation in Nebraska when I heard on the radio that Minnesota had finally voted to allow the ancestors of the banished Dakota back into Minnesota.

Say what?!?

I did more online research, but ultimately contacted Minnesota State Rep. Dean Urdahl (District 18B). This former history teacher led the charge to end the banishment, which now needs to be approved by Congress. He quickly e-mailed me back and noted it sits in front of Congress, but apparently awaits a go-ahead from the Mdewakanton in Minnesota.

Urdahl also noted, "This year I plan to move a resolution pardoning Chaska, who was one of the 38 hanged at Mankato.""

Get the Story:
Lisa Brainard: Dakota War of 1862 sneaks into South Dakota (The Bluff County Reader 11/21)