|
Post by sara on Sept 6, 2006 9:23:52 GMT -5
Hello, I need some feedback. There is a meeting here in Davenport Iowa Thursday Sept 7th at 7:00pm above the Camp McClellan Site. It is for a proposed closure of McClellan Blvds main entrance off busy River Drive. In its place a Mr Scott Killip has drew up plans for a green space. He called me last year with the idea. He now wants us to submit ideas for a monument to be palced there for the Dakota who were held here and died here in unmarked graves. I believe we should incorporate the Sac & Fox with the monument as this was a permenant village site for many years before white inhabitation. I need something in your owns words(Dakota Grandchildren) of why you think a monument should be placed there. I can read some at the meeting. THose of you who know me, know I do not like public speaking so I would rather read something a Dakota Descendant has to say. I am heading to the library and kinkos for some things I will need for the meeting, Sorry for the short notice, I was called only yesterday about the meeting. Thank-you in advance for any assistance you can provide, Anybody wanting to attend the meeting, You can stay at my place and I can help a little with gas. THanks, Sara
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 6, 2006 13:34:35 GMT -5
Please, please don't all talk at once.
|
|
|
Post by tamara on Sept 6, 2006 14:40:28 GMT -5
lol sara
My relatives and I are very pleased to learn of the desire to place a memorial in Davenport to honor the Dakota people who were held prisoner there and those that lost their lives at that time. There has been much effort made to gather the history of the Dakota in Davenport after 1862 and this acknowledges that these persons were Grandfathers, Grandmothers, Parents and children, persons who were loved and missed by their families. To memorialize them in this manner means a great deal to their descnedants who could easily wonder if they were all but forgotten by history. There was a time when a descendant in searching for an ancestor was saddened by the little information to be found on the subject of the Dakota Prisoners and her great-great-great grandfather. Clearly this is no longer the case and it is precisely things like this project that encourage more inquiry into the history that thus far had not been told or taught. Somehow it seems healing in my own heart that there be a marker not only in Davenport, but also in time to show for the generations to come that the community where such a sad chapter in our history took place, cared enough about the Dakota who were brought there to memorialize them in this manner.
Tamara St John Tordsen descendant of Bogaga
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 6, 2006 15:52:14 GMT -5
Tamara, It will be an honor to read this to the Davenport Community tomorrow night. Thank-you so much, I knew you would be there for me. Sara
|
|
sings
Full Member
Posts: 119
|
Post by sings on Sept 6, 2006 21:39:48 GMT -5
Sara: It was sad, this past May, to visit Davenport, and realize that the citizens of Davenport are so very unaware of the history of Camp Mc Clellan....A monument would help bring that history to light.....it is a good idea..... singsdakota
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 7, 2006 6:19:21 GMT -5
I will tell them that Kit! You are so right. Sara
|
|
|
Post by peacekeeper on Sept 7, 2006 8:20:28 GMT -5
Sara, After thinking about this I believe that it would be nice if they could have a document inscribed into the monument or next to it explaining the historical significance of McClellan. It would be an added bonus if not only explained why the Dakota were there, but also listed the names of those that died there and the ones who made it out at the end. It would also be nice if they would include the women and children who were there, especially since most died early from Tuberculosis, or some other disease brought on from their enforced stay at McClellan.
Also we thank these people for wanting to honor our descendants. I am grateful that the past is finally being acknowledged in an honorable way.
Last of all thank you Sara, for including us in this process that you have been asked to participate in.
Jackie
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 7, 2006 9:39:38 GMT -5
That is a good idea. I have 60 names on one list and then another list you got from MNHS and sent me had a few more names, Under the baptisms at the Camp, it shows a few babies being baptised and dying just after. It will be difficult to come up with a complete list, it was stated back in 1866 that the elder prisoners were going form memory who had died and so the list was not 100 % complete. But I think they had a good grasp of who out of there families had died. I have printed out Tamara's, Kit's and your responce and I will share it tonight. I have butterflies allready. Thanks, Sara
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 10, 2006 8:48:31 GMT -5
Good Grief, Nothing was accomplished at this meeting. I waited to hear what everyone had to say, and then had to stand up and start hollering over the alderman who wanted to end the meeting very quickly. I barely had time to share my view on the matter, so I was not able to read the letters from you girls. THe neigborhood is definately divided on closeing McClellan Blvd. The road deparment person who held the meeting had no numbers. Just a drawing. The residents want a study done or a number count of how many cars use McClellan on a daily basis. Most opposed were people who live above McClellan or who live on the streets east and west from McClellan. They don't want the extra cars if they close the Blvd. The only thing that was decided was they need another meeting in a bigger place with a michrophone. There was 3 TV News stations at the meeting and the newspaper reporter. She sat next to me. After I spoke I gave her my presentation and your letters. The next day an article was in the paper saying the meeting was unproductive and more studies need to be done, at the end of the article she wrote this... Sara Childers was disapointed to hear that the road slosure would not go forward at his time. Her husband and daughter are descendants of the Dakota tribe, 395 of whom in the mid 19th century were forced to march up an old dirt predecessor of McClellan Boulevard from their boat to a prison stockade. There, more than 100 died and today lay buried in unmarked graves throughout the neighborhood. Childers was hoping a green space created by the closure would be the place for a monument honoring them. "We want people to know what happened here. The Dakota that are buried here deserve something in their honor," she said.
|
|
|
Post by wazi on Sept 10, 2006 10:24:02 GMT -5
Okay Sara,
One of my forefathers had been placed in the ground at Davenport. I could only imagine the great sickness he may have felt at the time of his death. Not only was he suffering from pneumonia, but he also suffered from a broken heart. He was forced to give up his way of life. He was forced to throw away a wife, I could only imagine the anguish that Lizzie Brant and my grandfather had felt. He was forced to do all these things in order to walk out the prison doors. So he could walk up to his daughter, Winona, to pick her up and hold her in his arms. To see the wife he chose, to look into her eyes and whisper into her ear to say, "Tatiyopawastewin I love you." To see his mother and to tell her he is happy to see her face. However, after giving up all these things, he became ill at this place called Davenport, Camp McClellan, and made his journey to the spirit world with a broken heart. His body lies in this cemetary somewhere unmarked. Who was my grandfather? His name was Tahocokaduta! His name was Tahocokaduta! Again I say his name was Tahocokaduta. Let us not forget.
Hecetu ye
Maggie Ross great great great granddaughter of Tahocokaduta
wazi
|
|
|
Post by tamara on Sept 10, 2006 11:11:15 GMT -5
Okay Sara, One of my forefathers had been placed in the ground at Davenport. I could only imagine the great sickness he may have felt at the time of his death. Not only was he suffering from pneumonia, but he also suffered from a broken heart. He was forced to give up his way of life. He was forced to throw away a wife, I could only imagine the anguish that Lizzie Brant and my grandfather had felt. He was forced to do all these things in order to walk out the prison doors. So he could walk up to his daughter, Winona, to pick her up and hold her in his arms. To see the wife he chose, to look into her eyes and whisper into her ear to say, "Tatiyopawastewin I love you." To see his mother and to tell her he is happy to see her face. However, after giving up all these things, he became ill at this place called Davenport, Camp McClellan, and made his journey to the spirit world with a broken heart. His body lies in this cemetary somewhere unmarked. Who was my grandfather? His name was Tahocokaduta! His name was Tahocokaduta! Again I say his name was Tahocokaduta. Let us not forget. Hecetu ye Maggie Ross great great great granddaughter of Tahocokaduta wazi It is with an ache in my heart, tears in my eyes, and the sound of the drum beating that I read your words. You honor your grandfather in many ways. We as granchildren are the result of the struggles to survive of our ancestors. Deep within us, lies their laughter, their joy, their tears and their pain. We are the human form of their hopes and wishes for the future. It is our duty to honor them for these things, in our own lives and in our own hearts. These are things a person like you, Maggie, already knows. Has always known. More importantly, live, carry on and teach. Because of you, his struggles had purpose and were not in vain. Tamara
|
|
|
Post by sara on Sept 10, 2006 15:17:47 GMT -5
Maggie, I am so very very sorry. Your letter has brought me to a standstill. It is compassionate letters like these that I am collecting and they all will be read out loud and or put in print. Thank-you Maggie, Sara
|
|
|
Post by wanbliho on Sept 15, 2006 15:38:12 GMT -5
Sara, Going to Davenport in May was like attending a wake and funeral in many ways. I didn't expect to feel so much emotion and heartache for the prisoners and the ones who died. A monument is needed there. My g-g-grandfather Oyemaza was there and many other relations. If I can help in any way please let me know.
Wanbliho
|
|
|
Post by hermin1 on Oct 25, 2006 17:20:56 GMT -5
is there any compromise that can be worked out, without having to close that street. I am talking out of ignorance I think, because I have no idea of the logistics involved. but in so far as a monument, remember that the more elaborate you want it the more it will cost. iwould agree with a noting the significance of the spot and also the names of those buried there on the monument. Question I have is how is this going to be funded, and once the monument and greenspot is up who will maintain it? If funding is out of the city coffers, I can see the citizens of that area really up in arms, against it. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but you need to think this out from all aspects.
|
|