Good Bye Upper Sioux

Land Returning to the Upper Sioux

The soon to be former Minnesota Upper Sioux state park will be transfered back to the Sioux community next week, so we took advantage of the crazy warm weather to visit. We weren’t alone in that thought as there were many people out, on what would normally be lovely spring weather.

The State DNR had already closed the offices in preparation for the transfer. I had a severely pulled calf muscle, so climbing hills was out for me. I went to view the former Agency site, while Jane and Penny took a walk through the back trails.

There is an intense, quiet beauty of the prairie of southwestern Minnesota. And it’s far from flat. You can see for miles, yet hear almost no noise other than the wind and birds. Each time I visit the prairie, I feel almost instantly connected to the Earth, and simultaneously expand to meet the sky.

The Upper Sioux Agency

The Upper Sioux Agency was charged with distributing annuities and food to the Sioux who lived on the narrow strip of land along the Minnesota river that was their reservation. In 1862, the Sioux were starving and wanted their food that was in the warehouse. But the Agency withheld it, saying that they wanted to give it to them when the annuity money came. This is what triggered the Dakota War of 1862, and the eventual hanging of 38 Sioux in Mankato.

Looking Back Through Time

It was pretty powerful to stand on the site where it all began. There is one building that still remains, although it went through heavy restoration. The other buildings were all destroyed, but you can clearly see where they once stood. It wasn’t difficult to stand at the Agency headquarters and imagine hungry, desperate people wanting to get food that was just sitting in the warehouse. Or imagine the people who worked in the school, or the doctor, or the families of the workers seeing the building frustration and anger of the Sioux, and knowing exactly how vulnerable they were if a riot broke out.

Walking through the site and stopping at the location of each building gave me an opportunity to look at the way events unfolded from both perspectives. Neither group had a chance given their situations. The Sioux were starving, desperate, and angry. The Agency people were in an indefensible position tactically and morally, though I’m sure some had no hand in the decision to starve the Sioux.

Justice?

I don’t think there’s enough that we can do to try to get justice for conquered indigenous people of this or any other country. The wound cannot be erased. But it can be acknowledged, and as in this case where the state holds property, there exists a real opportunity for some restitution.

I’m glad that I got to visit this site and contemplate its beauty, history, and pain. Standing in a place provides opportunity for a much deeper connection than would be possible from reading or from video.

That’s what will potentially be lost after the transfer, but that’s a small price for the land to return to its original caretakers.

• State Parks
• Minnesota
• Dakota War 1862