Events At The Pond House This Weekend.

There are two big events at the Gideon and Agnes Pond House this Saturday and Sunday – hope you can join us for one or both!  These are great opportunities to learn firsthand about traditional Dakota culture.  The following Saturday you have a choice of a History Tour or a Buckthorn Bust -scroll down for all the info.  Hope to see you soon at the Pond House!

Jay Ludwig,

Pond Dakota Heritage Society

Dakota Culture Day – Saturday October 4, Noon to 4 pm
Traditional dancing, storytelling, and a Native American lunch buffet will be presented by the Mdewakanton Indian Community of the Upper Mississippi River. This program is free for all ages. All Pond Dakota Heritage Society members are warmly invited and encouraged to attend.

Dakota Tipi Life with Gary Schulte -  Sunday October 5, Rain or shine, Drop-in program 2:30 – 4 pm
Learn how a tipi is set up, and erect one yourself. Learn about Dakota life, the Dakota names of Twin City places, and the relationship between the Dakota people and Gideon Pond’s family.

The Gideon and Agnes Pond House is located in Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 East 104th St., Bloomington, between Portland and Nicollet Aves.  For more information contact Mark Morrison at Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8693, or after hours call Jay Ludwig at 952-484-0477, or visit www.ci.bloomington.mn.us.

Next Weekend’s Events

History Tour with John Crampton  – Saturday October 11, 2008, 8 am – 4 pm

Tour of Wahpeton chief Mazomani’s village, Oliver Faribault trading post site at Little Rapids, USFWS Rapids Lake Interpretive Center, Samuel Pond’s Prairieville Mission site, Faribault cabin and Shakpe village site in Shakopee- Jordan area.  Participants should be prepared to walk approx. 4-5 miles on trails and should also bring their own bag lunch, bug spray, sunscreen.  The tour is free but participants should be prepared to pay admission to Murphy’s Landing (now called the Landing) to tour the Faribault cabin and Pond gristmill.  Costs are $7 for children ages 3-11 and seniors over 62, $8.50 for adults.  Meet at the Shakopee Visitors Center at Memorial Park at 8 am sharp.  Memorial Park is on Highway 101 on the east side of town, and it features the helicopter just back from Vietnam.  RSVP by Friday noon, Oct. 10th by calling John at 612-396-6010 jcrampt@comcast.net

Buckthorn Bust – Volunteers needed!  – Saturday October 11, 2008, 10 am – 2 pm

Buckthorn, an invasive plant species that grows very quickly, is making a major impact on many of Bloomington’s wooded areas by choking out native trees, shrubs, and other plants. Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Bloomington Park Maintenance, and the Pond Dakota Heritage Society in helping clear buckthorn from beautiful Parker’s Picnic Grounds overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. The buckthorn bust will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parker’s Picnic Grounds located at 10401 Columbus Road in Bloomington. If you would like to volunteer, come to the Picnic Grounds the day of the event for registration and instructions. Wear sturdy shoes, jeans, long sleeve shirts, eye protection, and dress in layers. Some cutting and removal tools will be provided, but bring a bow saw, handsaw, lopping shears or hand shears if you have them. Please label tools with your name and phone number. Water will be provided for volunteers. For more information please call 952-563-8693 or visit the city of Bloomington website at www.ci.bloomington.mn.us keyword “buckthorn.”

Open House  – Sunday October 12, 1:30 – 4:00 pm
House tours will highlight Herman Hine Pond, who took over the family farm after his father, Gideon Pond, passed away in 1878. His daughter, Belle Pond St. Martin, lived in the house nearly all her life. The City of Bloomington purchased the Pond House from Belle and her husband, Edgar St. Martin.