History

               Dakota Reconciliation Ride

                               December, 2008

                       Honoring the 38 +2

                        Honoring A Vision

     Helping The Dakota People Come Together Again 

                   Bringing Healing l People

                                                                                                                                                     Photo by Peter Johnson

In 1862 an event occurred, in what is now Minnesota, which had a dramatic impact on the subsequent history of the United States, Canada, and Dakota tribes.  The event was the result of  federal policy and a newly formed state to remove the Dakota people from their lands and led to the largest mass hanging in US history on December 26, 1862 and the scattering of Dakota people across a region stretching from Saskatchewan to Nebraska.  Today, all the people of the region continue to be affected by this traumatic event.

In Spring, 2005, Jim Miller, a Vietnam veteran, enrolled member of Cheyenne River, and a descendent of the Dakotas who where displaced after the event, dreamt of a series of horseback rides that would bring the Dakota people together, raise awareness to the significance impact still with us from the mass hanging and the surrounding events, and to bring reconciliation among all people of the region so that we may move forward and live in a good way.

Jim’s vision is for riders from all Dakota tribes to ride over 330 miles from Lower Brule Indian Reservation to the site of the mass hanging in Mankato, Minnesota.  The ride is in December to honor the men, women, and children who were forced to march across the cold winter prairies either to the mass hanging in Mankato or to a large concentration camp of Dakota families at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.  The riders finish at Reconciliation Park in Mankato on the anniversary of December 26.

                                                                                     Jim Miller with riders from Fort Thompson, SD

                                                                                                                                    Photo by Peter Johnson

Four years are required to address this vision.  The first three years have been completed from Lower Sioux Indian Reservation near Morton, Minnesota to Mankato.  This was accomplished with the strong support of the Lower Sioux tribe and many other tribes and supporters.    The photos on this website are from the rides during these first three years.

Jim is a leader in traditional spiritual practices and understands how important it is to honor our visions.  Jim realizes that this challenging ride in December 2008 also teaches us to follow and honor our own dreams.  Many of us from Minnesota to Montana, from South Dakota to the Canadian provinces support Jim and his vision.  The 2008 Reconciliation Ride is a vision for all of us.  We have seen how much healing and reconciliation has already occurred in the short rides during the first three years.  Now is the time for all of us to come together and prepare for December when riders & horses and staffs from many nations ride over 300 miles from the Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota to the hanging site in Mankato, Minnesota.   It is a great challenge and hardship for both riders and horses traveling in freezing temperatures often in strong blowing snow and icy conditions.  The riders are suffering for the Dakotas and all people and the horses demonstrate a will and strength which spurs the riders on.  All of us will be paying tribute to the 38 + 2 and to all of their families, our ancestors who suffered for their people.

We ask for your support.  Our major expenses will be food, lodging, and gas.  There are also special needs for riders, horses, and elders.  Visit our Donation Page for more details.

Updates and Preparations

We have had our first meeting on March 1-2 at Fort Thompson, SD and will have our second meeting at Lower Brule, SD May 3-4.  All people are welcome. 

 Visit Ride Information for more information on preparations and updates.