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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Narrator Title Theme Topics Keywords Type
Dr. Elden Lawrence Two ways of life were clashing
  • 1862
  • Causes of War
  • Factions
  • Dakota Factions
  • Warrior
  • Christianity
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence “I’ll die with you. Because I’m not a coward.”
  • 1862
  • Causes of War
  • Little Crow
  • Little Crow (Thaóyate Dúta)
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence Lorenzo Lawrence (Towanetaton)
  • 1862
  • Family in 1862
  • Lorenzo Lawrence (Towanetaton)
  • Dakota Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Military
  • Warrior
  • Lac qui Parle
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence They got some recompense, I guess
  • 1862
  • Aftermath of 1862
  • Dakota Factions
  • Lincoln
  • Hangings
  • Warrior
  • Christianity
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence Milford Monument
  • 1862
  • Ways of Commemorating
  • Milford
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence Family roles were very structured and followed very closely
  • Dakota History
  • Dakota Social Structure
  • History
  • Roles
Oral story
Judith Anywaush Do those people really know that they can stay there; they don’t have to come back.
  • Life Today
  • Dakota Life Today
  • Jobs
  • Inter-Tribal Relationships
  • Repatriation
  • Jobs
  • Enrollment
  • Repatriation
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence Common ground
  • Life Today
  • Inter-cultural Relationships
  • Education
  • Religion
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence If I don’t break down some barriers, if I don’t tread some new paths...
  • Growing Up
  • Growing Up
  • Dakota in White Systems
  • Education
  • Spirituality
  • Military
  • Dakota Language
  • History
  • Prejudice
  • School
  • Military
  • Christianity
  • Ancestors
  • Language
Oral story
Pamela Halverson You can feel the coldness in there
  • 1862
  • Lower Sioux Agency
  • U.S. Government
  • Spirituality
  • Lower Sioux Community
  • Annuity
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence You don’t give up.
  • Education
  • Education
  • School
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence “You guys can’t be in here; I own all the air in here”
  • Shared History
  • Dakota Land
  • Treaties
  • Immigration
  • U.S. Government
  • Land
  • Settlers
  • Treaties
  • Encroachment
  • Dakota and U.S. Gov't
Oral story
Dallas Ross They don’t see colors in people; they just see people in people
  • Education
  • Dakota in White Systems
  • Education
  • Racism
  • Discrimination
  • School
Oral story
Michael Childs It was used against us; the generosity was used against us
  • Generosity
Oral story
Willard Manderfeld They had to teach us English first
  • Growing Up
  • Growing Up
  • Settler Life
  • Language
  • German
  • German
  • Language
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence Who you are is something nobody can take away from you
  • Life Today
  • Dakota Life Today
  • Dakota Identity
  • Warrior
  • Military
  • Honor
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence "We’re going to drive you all the way to the Rocky Mountains"
  • Shared History
  • Treaties
  • Dakota Social Structure
  • U.S. Government
  • Dakota Land
  • Treaties
  • Dakota and U.S. Gov't
  • Land
Oral story
Lillian Wilson I don’t think it was hard; it was kind of like an adventure.
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence The ideal American doesn’t really exist; he’s a myth
  • Shared History
  • U.S. Government
  • Assimilation
  • Dawes Act
  • American Indian Policy
  • Dakota and U.S. Gov't
  • Assimilation
  • Dawes Act
  • American Indian Policy
Oral story
Dr. Elden Lawrence It would serve as a memorial to the people that were there
  • 1862
  • Aftermath of 1862
  • Fort Snelling
  • Mankato Hangings
  • Fort Snelling
  • Hangings
Oral story
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