Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Dennis
The materials for the following pages were gathered during a seven-year residence in the immediate neighborhood, and indeed in the very midst, of the once powerful but now nearly extinct tribe of Sioux or Dakota Indians.
Fort Snelling is situated seven miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peter’s rivers. Built in 1819 and named after the gallant Colonel Snelling of the army, who oversaw its construction, the fort is made of stone and is one of the strongest Indian forts in the United States. Perched on a commanding bluff, it has the appearance of an old German castle or one of the strongholds along the Rhine.
The removal of the Winnebago was complicated by the interference of Wabashaw, the Sioux chief, whose village is on the Mississippi, 1,800 miles from its mouth. Wabashaw’s father was a noted Indian leader, and this past summer, the son has shown indications that he has inherited his father’s talents and courage. When the Winnebago arrived at Wabashaw’s prairie, the chief persuaded them not to continue their journey. He offered them land to settle near him and claimed it was not truly their Great Father’s wish for them to move. His bribes and eloquence led the Winnebago to refuse to proceed, despite being accompanied by a company of volunteer dragoons and infantry. This delay caused considerable expense and trouble, prompting the government agents to seek assistance from the command at Fort Snelling. With only one company stationed there, the commanding officer, along with twenty men and some friendly Sioux, went down to assist the agent.
Dahcotah is an alternate spelling for the tribe better known as the Dakota Tribe.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Preliminary Remarks On The Customs Of The Dahcotahs
- Mock-Pe-En-Dag-A-Win; or, Checkered Cloud, the Medicine Woman
- Red Earth; or, Mocka-Doota-Win
- Wenona; or, the Virgin’s Feast
- The Dahcotah Convert Wabashaw
- Wabashaw or the Leaf
- The Dahcotah Bride
- Shah-Co-Pee. The Orator of the Sioux
- Oye-Kar-Mani-Vim, The Track Maker
- Eta Keazah or, Sullen Face
- Tonwa-Yah-Pe-Kin, The Spies
- The Maiden’s Rock or, Wenona’s Leap
- The Indian in a Trance
- Oeche-Monesah, The Wanderer
- Tah-We-Chu-Kin, The Wife
- Wah-Zee-Yah, Another of the Giant Gods of the Dahcotahs
- Storms in Life and Nature; or, Unktahe and the Thunder Bird
- Haokah Ozape, The Dance of the Giant
- U-Mi-Ne-Wah-Chippe, or, To Dance Around