December 20th Day 11

Today the 11th day, the Ride heads for a few rest days at Morton (Lower Sioux) They will be travelling 23 miles from Vesta. The horses will be housed and taken care of at Darwin Strong's ranch, and the riders/support team will be at Jackpot Junction Hotel & Casino. Tonight they will be having dinner prepared and donated by the Goodthunder and Pendleton families. (Andrew Goodthunder and his wife Snana were notable people in the 1862 history.) Thank you to those families. They will be staying in Morton until Saturday . The photo is of outside Jackpot Junction Thanks to Jackpot Junction Hotel & Casino for housing the Riders and to Darwin Strong for taking care of the horses.

Mo Nichols Prayers and smoke up for a beautiful day for a ride! May Creator keep your journey safe! May all riders feel the love that is being sent upon the winds! May Grandmother Sun keep your bodies warm, Mother Earth unfold the gentle terrain before the four legged,and all who are participating be blessed with the blessings they so deserve! May we all walk together with dignity,grace,love,support,and honor to those before and those to come! May we always be respectful, and stay humble. May we never waiver in our beliefs,and our voices be heard! Love and blessings to all A'ho

Gitte Falck Asmussen Danish Hvorfor - mit hjerte græder - jeg vender ansigtet bort, kikker ud på solen, den varmer mine kinder, tørrer mine tårer. Ønsker at solen også i dag må tørre alle jeres tårer, brænde dem fast i jeres kinder. Timer dage og uge får vi lov at bruge. Sol, stjerner og måne dem få vi lov at låne. De store mænd prøver at vaske blodet af deres hænder, men det vil forevigt følge dem, ingen kan vaske sine hænder rene. Når i står og kikker på den tomme plads, er den ikke tom, ånderne er der. Hvisker det lille ord hvorfor. Ingen kan give dem svar, ingen kan lindre deres smerter, tørre deres tårer, tilbage er kun det lille ord hvorfor. Rid videre som det stolte folk i er, rid videre på Tårenes. sender bøn - tro - håb - kærlighed til Ånderne og det stolte folk. knus og kram	Gitte Falck Asmussen Translation to English Why - my heart cries - I turn my face away, look out on the sun, it warms my cheeks, wipes my tears. Want the sun too today to wipe all your tears, burn them firmly in your cheeks. Hours and weeks, we get to use. Sun, stars and moon, we get to borrow. The great men are trying to wash the blood of their hands, but it will forever follow them, no one can wash their hands clean. When you're looking at the empty space, it's not empty, the spirits are there. Whispering the little word. No one can give them answers, no one can ease their pain, wipe their tears, back is just the little word why. Ride on like the proud people you are, ride on to the tårenes. Sending prayer - faith - hope - love to the spirits and the proud people. Hugs and kisses
Diane Wild Safe travels with some snow coming.	Kris Hengel Vesta is my home town. Blessings to all.
Rebecca Bailey Prayers up. Oh...for a pony!	Michele J Dragas Prayers & gratitude daily!
Mary Setser Prayers going up for all	Janet Roper Prayers for safe journey
Janet Auer Anton Tonight I spent a wonderful evening with this wonderful group of riders. I learned a lot and am grateful for the time I got to spend with them. Continued prayers for your safe journey and thank you to the men and women I got to visit with.	Connie Edberg Prayerful thoughts as this journey continues to honor the Dakota 38 +2. Blessing to the riders [& horses] as they ride creating a poignant reminder of that fateful day, December 26, 1862. Mitakuye Oyasin... In gratitude
Mo Nichols Gloria Hazell Derby, thank you so much for the heart and soul you put into this ride,the history,and the willingness to share the truth with so many of us that do not know the facts. I am learning so much from your post as well as others. I am humbled to be part of such an amazing group of love. To you all, thank you for sharing and teaching me. Together,we will all begin to heal. Blessings and love A'ho	Cece Walter Prayers up for all riders, horses and support staff. I am with you in spirit and am honored to be able to follow you each day. I wear my hoodie, t-shirt and have my bumper sticker on my car in your honor. Thank you for making this journey in remembrance of the Dakota 38+2. Many blessings and much love to you all. Stay safe and warm.
Tammy Watson I'm glad the weather having been somewhat favorable...	Alice Erickson Thank you my daughters for this. Marge DR and Lisa Marie.
Patty Pennington Thankful for best weather in several years. Wishing all safe travels	Tobie Nelson So glad the weather is good for them and mercy prayers for all the riders!
Uk'Piqk Bawaajigan Seems global warming is making this years ride warm? Any rate, love and prayers to all of you	Lori Bean Thinking of you all. Sending prayers for a safe day. We're with you in spirit.
Gayle E Stone Arrow Thank you for sharing!	Jeff Galuza Looks like tolerable weather! Yay!!
Marianne Young Eagle Continued prayers for safety and protection.	Dorothy Coyotes Aho all my relations
Edon Ashley Willis I'm glad the weather is decent this year for the riders	Yvette Minneapolis continued prayers for the runners riders and horses
Becky Larsen My prayers are added to yours....	Angela Bercier Prayers for safe travels for riders and ponies
Tammy Atkinson Prayers for everyone	Kat Klotz Prayers
Katherine Brewer So beautiful, Pidams Tunkashila	Marcus Cranberry My prayers are with all
Donna Anderson Sooo blessed by your continued endurance and determination ! Praying for Creators continued spirit, protection, grace and favor upon you everyday! Wopida.. Wado!	Michele J Dragas And with each mile, you are rectifying the injustices for the generations that came before you. May the Miles bring deep healing, total restoration ~ and Peace. A-ho!
Janet Reed Prayers and Smoke Uplifted to Our Creator, for a Good Healing Journey, and Warmth, for Mitakuye Oyasin.....	Kimberly Jo Stuvick Anderson Prayers to the Dakota 38 + 2 .. to everyone involved.
Kathryn Hamilton Smoke up for riders and ponies	Yvette Leecy Beautuful
Ramona Gerber Good Thursday morning riders & support staff. A few less miles today, but still a important part of the journey. Hoping Warriors & horses get some rest the next couple of days. Enjoy your quiet time to reflect & hope each of you have received something from this experience. Your commitment & dedication is there, as you are nearing the final days of the ride. God speed & safe journey. Many blessings to you all from Alaska & Merry Christmas.	Gloria Hazell-Derby A number of people have been asking about the names of the men who were hung. Some have wanted to put posts on the group page that are not the actual truth of the hangings. A number of years ago I made up 2 pages for the Women's March giving the names of ALL the imprisoned men (including those who were hung) and all the the women who were left to be the head person in their families. The pages are on our website and have been for a number of years. I know many of you do not actually look at those extra pages, so I am going to put the links on here including the page I wrote about the history of the 1862 war. I will put them below this section

The names of all of the men imprisoned or hung

The names of all of the women who were imprisoned in Fort Snelling Camp

The Dakota 1862 Story

Joy Maddox One by one the Ancestors began coming to her. She feels their presence as the energy begins to flow. Her prayers rise among the smoke and with each breath she becomes more aware of all the spirits lingering just above the ground...these are her family...her people....her relatives. They have taken her in when no one understood.. I hear your calls...I feel your forgiveness and I feel the love that was lost...and I feel the love emerging from your Spirits...We are all walking each other home... Forgive Everyone...Everything.. J.M.

Hanging of the 38

Thanks for the messages, keep sending them in please.

That's it for today.... Prayers sent from me in England for the Riders, the Horses, the Crews, the Communities who feed and house the riders, crew and horses, the Supporters worldwide and YOU... Mitakuye Oyasin