Education Page Things are added here from previous years' education pages "SAINT PAUL, December 27, 1862. The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have the honor to inform you that the thirty-eight Indians and half-breeds ordered by you for execution were hung yesterday at Mankato at 10 a.m. Everything went off quietly and the other prisoners are well secured. Respectfully, H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier-General." The names of those executed were as follows: ~Ptan Du-ta (Scarlet Otter) ~O-ya'-te Ta-wa (His people) ~Hin-han'-sun-ko-yag-ma-ni (One who Walks Clothed in Owl Feathers) ~Ma-za Bo-mdu (Iron Blower) ~Wa-hi'na (possibly meaning I Came) ~Sna Ma-hi (Tinkling Water) ~Hda In-yan-ka (Rattling Water) ~He-pan (Second born child, this was given to the second boy) ~Tun-kan' I-ca'hda Ma-ni (One Who Walks by His Grandfather) ~Ka-mde'-ca (Broken to Pieces) ~He In'-kpa (The Tip of the Horn) ~Na-pe'-sni (Fearless) ~Ma-za Ku-te Ma-ni (One Who Shoots As He Walks) ~A-i'-ca-ge (To Grow Upon) ~Ho-i'-tan-in Ku (Returning Clear Voice) ~Ce-tan' Hun-ka' (Elder Hawk) ~Can-ka-hda (Near the Woods) ~Hda'-hin-hde (Sudden Rattle) ~O-ya'-te A-ku' (He Brings the People) ~Ma-hu'-we-hi (He Comes for Me) ~Ti-hdo'-ni-ca (One Who Jealousy Guards His Home) ~Wa-kan Tan-ka (Great Mystery or Great Spirit) ~Cas-ke'-da (First Born Child. this was given to the first boy) ~Do-wan'-s'a (Sings a lot or Singer) ~Ta-te' Ka-ga (Wind Maker) ~Sun-ka Ska (White Dog) ~Wa-kin'-yan-na (Little Thunder) ~Baptiste Campbell (a mixed blood) ~Wa-hpe Du-ta (Scarlet Leaf) ~Wa-si'-cun (White Man) ~I-te' Du-ta (Scarlet Face) ~Ma-ka'-ta I-na' (One Who Stands on Earth) ~Hypolite Auge (a mixed blood) ~Ma-hpi'-ya A-i'-na-zin (One who Stands on a Cloud, a.k.a. Cut Nose) ~Tun-kan' Ko-yag I-na'-zin (One Who Stands Cloaked in Stone) ~Ta-te' Hdi-da (Wind Comes Home) ~Ta-te Hmi-hma (Round Wing) Little Crow (Ta-oya-te-duta) was discovered by accident July 3 1863 and shot to death by a white farmer who was paid over $500 for his body that was then mutilated and displayed for over 100 years. His body was eventually discovered in 1971 and buried in Flandreau, SD. The ceremony was performed by Galen Drapeau Sr. Two chiefs, Shakopee (Little Six) and Medicine Bottle were pursued into Canada, captured and kidnapped back to the States. On November 11 1865 they were hung in Fort Snelling... These are the +2. In 1995 - 1997, my late husband Chuck, and I were members of The Gathering of Kinship Committee. The group was started to heal the wounds of the 1862 heartache, from both sides. In 1997 we had decided to ask people to carry the names of the 38 plus 3 (Little Crow was the third person) for the following year, so that they could have the mourning process done for them. Dakota people back then would honor the dead for a year, a wife would carry a bundle of her husbands things with her, she would talk to it, put food out for it and she would put it in his seating place and sleeping place, as if it were him, she would not wear new clothes, or dance, nor socialize. After a year she would return the bundle to his relatives and they would provide her with new clothes to begin her life again. I guess it was a good way to get used to the loved one not being around, it was a custom and so she could do it in a way that was acceptable to everyone. Nowadays we are told to 'get over it' in many cases, we are not allowed to mourn our dead, for as long as they were allowed to. Of course when the men were hung in Mankato they had no one to mourn for them as their wives and family were imprisoned and were having a hard enough time just to survive. They needed to be mourned and their Spirits put to rest. So I asked Galan Drapeau Sr, the man who buried Little Crow if he would do a ceremony for these men, and he said yes. The committee made up leather name tags for each man and they would be given to people in place of the bundle. We hoped to get actual descendants to take them home but that was hard to do and so only a few in the end were taken by family members. Anyway the day came for the ceremony it was to be done at Birch Coulee, during the memorial powwow that was on for 2 days. We gathered together in the sun around Galen while he took every one of those name tags and did a ceremony with them. It was amazing. people just stood quietly and watched him (and another spiritual leader) do their spiritual work. Then the names were given out to the people. The one thing that came from that day was the amount of people (including myself) who saw the spirit lights in the trees circling us. they were just flashing off and on all over those trees, but of course we knew not to say anything that would disturb the spiritual men while they worked. I don't know if they saw those lights but I know many of us did. Those spirits were watching as well, as enthralled as we all were, while the men did their wonderful work. It was a great honor to be there and to be a part of that committee. Baine Wilson who was the man who was the founder of the group has gone now, his wife Lillian became a good friend, as did most of that group. We had a spiritual link to each other. (The day that we did the ceremony, was the same day that Princess Diana died. The following day everyone at the powwow did an honor dance for her, probably the first honoring for her in the world.) I went back to England a few weeks afterwards, and so never got to see the name tags bought back the following year. I know all of them were not returned, I have heard of one that is worn on regalia as a continuing honoring to that man. Teachings from Our Ancestors Believe in the beauty and strength of your own being. Live a life of truth and honesty. This makes you a person of quality and dignity. Truth and honesty are the kind of leadership qualities that attracts others. Give honor and respect to others regardless of age or situation in life. This quality makes you and others worthy of honor and respect, which makes others, feel worthwhile and fulfilled. Honor and respect empowers others so they can win the day. They will return it to you fourfold. Honor the earth and all that exists. Be strong in this belief and practice it throughout your life because it makes for a world of kindness that binds all the good things of life together in a circle of harmony. Be humble but not timid. To be humble is to connect yourself to the stars and the entire universe and makes you aware there is something unique about life that is to be enjoyed without fear. We are a people from the stars and because of it we sacred. Help others realize that life is a dream . . . . a beautiful dream. Dreamers are the butterflies of life that help others realize their dreams. Be humorous and help others enjoy life and the life of others. Humor makes the leader attractive. The humorous person has many guests and the one who is invited everywhere because of the joy they bring to the gathering. Never be afraid to talk matters over with those who disagree with you or with those you love. The gift of language is a miracle and it is meant to be used to live a life of harmony, joy, love and respect. Use it well and use it often. What is described here is leadership in the broadest sense. These are the qualities that make for a great father, great grandmother, lover, teacher, traditional leader, friend, and a great human being. Best of all you can add to this list. In honor and respect: Long Standing Bear Chief Sweet Grass From Richard Wagamese - Ojibway. Three strands in a braid of sweet grass. They represent three spiritual qualities - love, kindness, humility, say. When I smudge myself with it, I purify myself in those qualities. I prepare myself for my day with the strength of those spiritual qualities. It clings to my hair, my clothes and in the air of my home. In that way, as I move through my day and I smell that fragrance I am reminded of how I have chosen to live that day - and in that, is the power of greeting my days with reverence, calm and prayer. In that is how I learn to direct my humanity toward peace, equality and harmony one day, one person, one circumstance at a time. Peace friends, travel well through this day.. 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