Teaching the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862
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We've confirmed our panelists for our Dec. 12 event:
John Biewen is audio program director at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, and a former Minnesota Public Radio reporter. His newest documentary is about the U.S.-Dakota War.
Curt Brown is a Star Tribune reporter who wrote the series “In the footsteps of Little Crow: 150 years after the U.S.-Dakota War” which was also turned into an e-book.
Kate Beane is Flandreau Santee Dakota, and a PhD candidate in American studies at UMN Twin Cities. She is a graduate instructor at UMN and also serves as adjunct faculty teaching Dakota Culture and History at Minneapolis Community and Technical College in downtown Minneapolis. She is a contributor to the recent book Mni Sota Makoce and wrote a piece in the book that focused on a village, led by her great grandfather Cloud Man, that once resided at present day Lake Calhoun, which in Dakota carries a much older name of Bde Maka Ska. -
Read our special coverage on The U.S.-Dakota War - "Little War on the Prairie"
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"Little War on the Prairie" - A documentary by John Biewen
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Prefer to read "Little War on the Prairie," rather than listen? Here you go.
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Our live video stream will begin at approximately 4:00 pm.
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Having trouble getting on live streaming video...when I click on it I am send to another place that says to sign in on FB
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Molly, having the same problem. No triangle, either. -
Let us know if you have a question for the panelists. We'll do our best to send them to the panel.
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Growing up in Mankato, I can attest that the U.S. Dakota War was not taught in schools-even there. It is time now for us all to learn about it.
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This is Mickey Moore...Managing Director of Inclusion and Community Impact at APM/MPR. Thank you for joining us. Have you used Curt Brown's series in your classroom?
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yes, particularly used the video interviews, francis wakeman reciting Taoyatuda's speech engaged students. -
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In my district (Forest Lake-north of the cities), we have started to use Curt Brown's articles, but mostly so teachers themselves, can learn our history. In turn, they are more able to teach the children.
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My students were interested why Taoyateduta would at once tell his young men that they were acting like children but then align with them and fight though he disagreed. It spoke to them because sometimes they fight for their peers, even if they disagree with the fight.
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agree on Northern Lights text. it also has an iPad app now too.
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I am so grateful that the MN Dept of Education now finally has MN Native American standards in place (Language Arts, Music, Science, and now Social Studies). I do agree that teachers need to read/study about our Native history in order to better teach.
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we look at it in 7th and 8th grade as well and compare/contrast with the US Civil War.
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What do you all think - is 6th grade the right age? What is different at the older levels?
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My 6th graders, while they may have missed the nuances of the US Dakota War, are very interested in what is fair, and that was the hook for them. Some of them are going to pursue it for their history day project.
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I teach aspiring teachers in a course called Indians of MN. Most of my students are from MN, not all, but the majority. I ask them, "how many of you have been taught this history in your K-12 education. I am lucky to get 1-2 who raise their hands. Every teacher across the US should be required to take and teach who the Indigenous people are and the history of colonization. When I worked in Iowa, we had these discussions as early as 3rd grade. As students get older more detail and truth can be included. By the time the students come to my class, they are often angry that they have not been taught these things.
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I think 6th grade is fine, but it needs to be revisited again and again. Also, like Matthew Larkey stated, older students have an abillity to compare and contrast. For example, I teach that we had our own Trail of Tears as they learn about the U.S. Dakota War.
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6th grade is a good grade to start, around this time I myself took an interest in my ancestry and followed everything I could concerning the Bering Strait Theory. I do agree that it needs to be something brought up in the class room again and again. The complexities of the issues involved can be useful through middle and high school.
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It's Mickey from MPR again - what is the appropriate age to introduce this topic (of Lincoln) into the classroom?
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We are taking our 10 - 12 graders on a field trip to Mankato State and will be doing stops on the Dakota Conflict history along the way and having a Dakota Elder with them to answer questions.
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The Civil War is a center to most U.S. History courses at any grade level. In Minnesota, the Dakota Conflict was central to what was going on during the Civil War. It would be absurd to exclude talking about it whenever the Civil War is the topic here in Minnesota.
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Yes, Curt says to teach 'perspective'. This is what is needed most in teaching MN Native American history/culture. In my district (Forest Lake) we encourage educators to use texts by Native authors in order to gain an authentic voice on a subject.
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So much talk about distilling this topic down into a format for kids to understand when adults haven't been able to do it well throughout our history. Can you talk about ways to have real and meaningful conversations about this history in our homes, with our friends and families. I'm really fun at parties...
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Please address the issue of how teachers should deal with some of controversial terminology, for example, 'concentration camp' vs. 'internment camp' or 'forcibly removed' vs 'ethnic cleansing.'
- Griff Wigley, Northfield -
Lincoln's role should not be glorified. He did nothing when Native people were being swindled out of their homeland, their Garden of Eden which causes the war and he did nothing after when the Dakotas were exiled. The horror that devastated the Dakota existence for years can be attributed to Lincoln's lack of involvement. He is no hero to Native people.
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Lincoln's "dilemma" in the decision he had to make is a fascinating topic for high school age abstract thinkers. An opportunity to connect with "personalization" of decision making. Add to that Lincoln's personal depression and it even fits into a Psychology Class.
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We need to give students more credit on dealing with controversial or depressing issues. When we encourage an environment in education, especially in social sciences, that tries to dilute the information then you are not allowing students agency in their education.
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Another great text to use in classrooms:
Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862- by Gary Clayton Anderson -
As Native people we believe that those that resisted colonization are true patriots. We were battling this massive force that was gobbling up our homelands, who brought deadly diseases, and weapons of mass distruction. In most accounts the Europeans were treated well when they were encountered Native people. Warring came as a result of the theft and genocide.
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Pairing the "Why Treaties Matter" Interactive Webb site would be nice nice way for students to "hunt and peck" their way through the treaties and characters involved. The students finding these facts on a site on their own is far more powerful than us telling them about the treaties in a lecture.
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We will keep this discussion open after the video panel has concluded. Feel free to keep the discussion going.
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