On December 26, 1862, the U.S. military lynched 38 of our Dakota patriots in the largest mass execution in United States history. On November 7, 1862, a group of about 1,700 Dakota, primarily women and children, were forcibly marched from the Lower Sioux Agency to a concentration camp at Fort Snelling.

Saturday February 4, 2012.

Jim Anderson, Mendota’s Chairman, and Nick Anderson Culture / Historian will light the sacred fire at 11:00am. The ceremony is at 12:00pm.

Where

Fort Snelling State Park.

The park entrance is off Highway 5 at Post Road near the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

Drive down into the park, go inside the building to get your free pass, thanks to the DNR and the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community.

Following the ceremony a potluck feast will be held at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 East Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN. (Please bring a dish to share)

If you need more information please call the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community office 651-452-4141.

“Dress warm, the ceremony is outside, women should wear skirts. Please bring some tobacco for an offering”

Pidamaya from the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community!