Educational Events

One hundred and fifty years ago this month, on August 17, 1862 shots were fired that led to an even-more fractured path between the Dakota people  and the new settlers who were encroaching on lands in Minnesota.  This event served as a tipping point in history and the repercussions from that moment in time affect today's experiences as well.

On June 30, the Minnesota Historical Society  opened its new exhibit on the United States - Dakota Indian War of 1862 and the repercussions of this six week battle at the Minnesota History Center.  This site is to assist current Minnesotans and specifically the faith community to connect with events to help them understand the past in order to help frame the future, as well as to help provide a place to learn about ways to tangibly support Dakota people who are planning commemoration 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 (see post)
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

Dakota Trials

PROGRAMS/EXHIBITS/FILMS
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: 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 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 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 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, 6:30 p.m., Host Jim Miller
Oct 23: Film Dakota 38, St. Thomas University, McNeely Hall, 7 p.m.
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).

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

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