Post by Jimmy on Nov 25, 2008 23:04:56 GMT -5
I'm posting this for Tamara.
Anpetu Waste,
Han mitakuyepi; My name is Dianne Desrosiers and I am the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Sisseton
Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota, I have met some of you and
that is why I am contacting you. We, SWO and Standing Rock
Historic Preservation Office (Waste Win Young and Allicia
White Eagle) have been collaborating on a project with the
State of North Dakota Historical Society and the Whitestone
Battlefield Assoc. The state and the Historical society are
pushiing to have the site nominated to the Nat'l
Register of Historic Places. We don't really have a
problem with that but we want the true story of what
occurred there to be known. The Whitestone Massacre is a
site in which the dakota bands were camped preparing for
winter, they were hunting and preparing food for winter
stores when they were attacked by General Sibley in a
retaliatory effort to punish any Dakota bands for the
uprising in Minnesota, the attack occurred on Sept 3 of 1863
(one yr
after the uprisisng in Mn). Several groups were present
about 300 Dakotas were killed and about 200-250 were taken
prisoner. (some accounts) They destroyed all lodges
(coverings) weapons, cooking utensils etc. Accounts have a
1/2 million lbs of buffalo meat was destroyed (knowing this
would leave our people destitute in the oncoming winter).
Several bands were present which may have included; Cut Head
Yanktonai, Sihasapa, Sans Arc and possibly some Wahpekute
and others??? Many of the survivors fled during the night as
the episode lasted most of the night and the soldiers were
killing each other (accounts say most of the soldiers which
did die there, died from friendly fire).
First we have asked the leadership for support in our
efforts to get the name changed from battlefield to
"Massacre" site, last Friday the Great Plains
Tribal Chairmans Assoc supported our cause by passing a
resolution to change the name, which we will present to the
ND Historical Society.
What I am asking is, if you have any members (elders) in
your community that may have info on this incident ancestral
ties etc. We want to portray the incident as accurately as
possible. Any info would support our efforts to have the
incident portrayed as it occurred, for signage at the site.
WE would eventually have an archeological and Traditional
cultural property survey and most important an ethnographic
study so that our side of the story can be known. The ND
istorical Society is ready to put out what they want there
but we are asking for more time to gather the relevant
information to tell our side of the story. Please feel free
to forward this info to anyone you may feel would have
information re this incident. Thus I have attached the
agenda for the upcoming meeting to be held at the Prairie
Knights Casino/Hotel www.prairieknights.com on the Standing
Rock Reservation in North Dakota, the afternoon session will
be open forum for anyone who may
have info on the Whitestone Massacre. I would appreciate
any information you may have please feel free to contact me,
Waste Win Young or Allicia White Eagle at 701-854-2120.
Pidamaya,
Dianne Desrosiers
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
605-698-4972
Anpetu Waste,
Han mitakuyepi; My name is Dianne Desrosiers and I am the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Sisseton
Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota, I have met some of you and
that is why I am contacting you. We, SWO and Standing Rock
Historic Preservation Office (Waste Win Young and Allicia
White Eagle) have been collaborating on a project with the
State of North Dakota Historical Society and the Whitestone
Battlefield Assoc. The state and the Historical society are
pushiing to have the site nominated to the Nat'l
Register of Historic Places. We don't really have a
problem with that but we want the true story of what
occurred there to be known. The Whitestone Massacre is a
site in which the dakota bands were camped preparing for
winter, they were hunting and preparing food for winter
stores when they were attacked by General Sibley in a
retaliatory effort to punish any Dakota bands for the
uprising in Minnesota, the attack occurred on Sept 3 of 1863
(one yr
after the uprisisng in Mn). Several groups were present
about 300 Dakotas were killed and about 200-250 were taken
prisoner. (some accounts) They destroyed all lodges
(coverings) weapons, cooking utensils etc. Accounts have a
1/2 million lbs of buffalo meat was destroyed (knowing this
would leave our people destitute in the oncoming winter).
Several bands were present which may have included; Cut Head
Yanktonai, Sihasapa, Sans Arc and possibly some Wahpekute
and others??? Many of the survivors fled during the night as
the episode lasted most of the night and the soldiers were
killing each other (accounts say most of the soldiers which
did die there, died from friendly fire).
First we have asked the leadership for support in our
efforts to get the name changed from battlefield to
"Massacre" site, last Friday the Great Plains
Tribal Chairmans Assoc supported our cause by passing a
resolution to change the name, which we will present to the
ND Historical Society.
What I am asking is, if you have any members (elders) in
your community that may have info on this incident ancestral
ties etc. We want to portray the incident as accurately as
possible. Any info would support our efforts to have the
incident portrayed as it occurred, for signage at the site.
WE would eventually have an archeological and Traditional
cultural property survey and most important an ethnographic
study so that our side of the story can be known. The ND
istorical Society is ready to put out what they want there
but we are asking for more time to gather the relevant
information to tell our side of the story. Please feel free
to forward this info to anyone you may feel would have
information re this incident. Thus I have attached the
agenda for the upcoming meeting to be held at the Prairie
Knights Casino/Hotel www.prairieknights.com on the Standing
Rock Reservation in North Dakota, the afternoon session will
be open forum for anyone who may
have info on the Whitestone Massacre. I would appreciate
any information you may have please feel free to contact me,
Waste Win Young or Allicia White Eagle at 701-854-2120.
Pidamaya,
Dianne Desrosiers
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
605-698-4972