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Fort Snelling Internment Camp
In my prayers with the group the other night, I was told the word of the day was HOPE, and I thought well that was nice we all need that. But, it wasn't until later after I had said it on the group that I got more of an answer to why the word was given to me. It seems, I was reminded, that when Pandora, who in Greek Myth was the first human woman, opened the box she had been gifted for safe keeping, but curiousity got the better of her, she unleashed all the evil things that had been locked away in there so as not to spoil the lovely world that had been Created, the final thing to come out hidden away in a corner, was a beautiful white moth, and she was told it's name was Hope! Hope was there to allow people who were in the direst straights, such as these women in Fort Snelling who no doubt were experiencing some of those evil things that were let out of the box, to have a dream, that they would one day be free again, I hope that HOPE was with them all, even though they probably didn't know the story, that they understood what Hope was. We all, in these days of uncertainty, of violence, of sadness, of cruelty, of despair, of illness, and the rest of the things that make us sad or fearful, should remember that story, and keep HOPE in our hearts and minds, a dream that it will get better, maybe tomorrow. I hope that you all hold that dream of HOPE in your lives. Mitakuye Oyasin. Gloria
Eye Witness Report from
Maza Okiye Win (Isabel Roberts) in 1862 as told to and carried by Elsie
Cavender. Part Two. They passed through a lot of towns and they went through some where the people were real hostile to them. They would throw rocks, cans, sticks, and everything they could think of: potatoes, even rotten tomatoes and eggs. They were throwing these things at them, but the Indians still had to walk through the main streets. So they had to take all that. Then when they would pass through the town they would be all right. A lot of those towns I don't know the names of in English. They used to say them in Indian. The two towns that were the worst they had to got through were Henderson and New Ulm, Minnesota. I didn't know the name in English so I said, "Grandfather, do you know how they call them in English?" "No, I just know their Indian names," he said. So then I had to go to Mr. Fred Pearsall. In Indian his name was Wanbdi Ska (White Eagle). He was a white man, but he knew a lot of things about the conflict. He talked Indian just like we do. He knew all those things that happened and he knew just what words to use to describe the times. So I was able to get the names of those towns. They were the worst ones they had to go through. When they came through New Ulm they threw cans, potatoes, and sticks. They went on through the town anyway. The old people were in the cart. They were coming to the end of the town and they thought they were out of trouble. Then there was a big building at the end of the street. The windows were open. Someone threw hot, scalding water on them. The children were all burned and the old people too. As soon as they started to rub their arms the skin just peeled off. Their faces were like that, too. The children were all crying, even the old ladies started to cry, too. It was so hard it really hurt them but they went on.
They would camp some place at night. They would feed them, giving them meat, potatoes, or bread. But they brought the bread in on big lumber wagons with no wrapping on them. They would just throw it on the ground. They would have them sleep in either cabins or tents. When they saw the wagons coming they would come out of there. They had to eat food like that. So, they would just brush off the dust and eat it that way. The meat was the same way. They had to wash it and eat it. A lot of them got sick. They would get dysentery and diarrhea and some had cases of whooping cough and small pox. This went on for several days. A lot of them were complaining that they drank the water and got sick. It was just like a nightmare going on this trip. (published in Waziyatawin, "Grandmother to Grandaughter: Generations of Oral Tradition in a Dakota Family," in Devon Mihesuah, ed., Natives and Academics: Researching and Writing about American Indians) Copyright of this report belongs to Waziyatawin This narration and other information from the Women's March will be continued over the next couple of days NB: Just for your interest Fred Pearsall, mentioned in the above report, was my late husband, Chuck Derby's (and family) Great Grandfather. He was English but spoke Dakota all of the time. I have seen the newspaper report when he passed on, and it said he was very respected by Dakota and White's alike and was regarded by all as 'Chief' White Eagle. - Gloria |
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Day 3. December 12th 2019 Prayer for Today: Good morning relatives, Our ancestors endured horrific experiences along this same path some see as just a beautiful moments captured in time. Creator I offer humbled prayers
for the healing of our ancestors that were taken from us,the teachings,the
traditions,the pain,and sorrow. Be with them and our horse nation carrying
our brothers and sisters along this journey today, as they travel that
same path, headed this time toward healing and reconciliation. A moment
where we honor their sacrifices.
Route for Today
From Wessington Springs, to Woonsocket,
a distance of 30 miles, where they will stay the night in the Woonsocket
Community Center. The horses will be at the Woonsocket Corral which has been used before. It is on the corner.
From our Members: Mark G W. Elliott:
Photos from the Ride
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Dakota 38 + 2 Memorial Ride Supporters group on Facebook Historic photographs courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Website mostly written and Created by Gloria Hazell Derby Dragonfly Dezignz © 2019 to date |
