Stories
Minnesota Historical Society staff members collected dozens of stories from Dakota people throughout Minnesota, the Midwest and Canada as well as from settler descendants in southwestern Minnesota during 2011 and 2012. Full transcripts and audio versions as well as selected quotes are available on this website.
Oral tradition is a way for cultures from around the world to remember and relay history throughout generations. Ancestors have passed down history in this way for thousands of years, and no one oral tradition is more valid than the other. They represent the personal feelings and memories of the person interviewed. They are all honored and respected in a good way, with a good heart.
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- United Nations
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- Upper Sioux Agency
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- War
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- Wechankpeotowe (Many Stars Woman)
- Women
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- Work
- Wounded Knee
- WPA
- WWII
- Youth
Narrator | Title | Theme | Topics | Keywords | Type |
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Dr. Elden Lawrence | Two ways of life were clashing |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | “I’ll die with you. Because I’m not a coward.” |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Lorenzo Lawrence (Towanetaton) |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | They got some recompense, I guess |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Milford Monument |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Family roles were very structured and followed very closely |
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Oral story |
Judith Anywaush | Do those people really know that they can stay there; they don’t have to come back. |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Common ground |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | If I don’t break down some barriers, if I don’t tread some new paths... |
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Oral story |
Pamela Halverson | You can feel the coldness in there |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | You don’t give up. |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | “You guys can’t be in here; I own all the air in here” |
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Oral story |
Dallas Ross | They don’t see colors in people; they just see people in people |
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Oral story |
Michael Childs | It was used against us; the generosity was used against us |
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Oral story |
Willard Manderfeld | They had to teach us English first |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Who you are is something nobody can take away from you |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | "We’re going to drive you all the way to the Rocky Mountains" |
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Oral story |
Lillian Wilson | I don’t think it was hard; it was kind of like an adventure. |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | The ideal American doesn’t really exist; he’s a myth |
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Oral story |
Dr. Elden Lawrence | It would serve as a memorial to the people that were there |
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Oral story |

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