Hey, blogspot readers, three teen brothers known as REBELMANN are about to embark on a 330 mile journey across the Great Plains on horseback with Native Americans in remembrance of The Dakota 38+2, the largest mass execution in the history of the United States which was ordered by Abraham Lincoln. The 16-day trek to the mass hanging site in Mankato, Minnesota plans to be a journey of healing, reconciliation and remembrance of the executed Dakota 38+2 not only for the Native Americans taking part of this but also for REBELMANN.
The "civilized" systematic killing, and attempted mass genocide, of the indigenous peoples of these
United
States. That IS the Truth. Simply put - The Ugly Truth. The untold
story - of the real history - of the Native American, not taught in the
history books in order to create a backstory of glorified greatness, by
the likes of Abraham
Lincoln
and Andrew Jackson, who like many other past presidents, systematically
tried to exterminate, yet failed, the original peoples of these United
States.
There is one caveat. They are still here ..... and alive ..... The Native American.
The
First Nation peoples of these United States are not the playbook of
mascots Washington "Redskins" owner, Dan Snyder, celebrates like a
smorgasbord of homegoods, where back-in-the-
day a "bloody heathen
scalp" or "Redskin" fetched a remarkable $200. They are instead, a
celebrated people who strive to keep their culture alive, along with
protecting the very land their ancestors valiantly died for.
The removal of the
Dakota Indians from Minnesota and the upper midwest, in what was, and still is, basically a
race
war, has left many Native Americans traumatized by these acts of
"civilized" behavior. In fact, The Indian Removal Act, later signed by
Andrew Jackson in 1830, would further attempt to repress and silence the
indigenous peoples of the United States. In order to annihilate the
Native American, the Dakotas were exiled from the Fort Snelling
Concentration Camp in Minnesota and marched, or put on cattle trains and
river boats, to the Crow Creek Concentration Camp in South Dakota,
where bands of the Oceti Sakowin remain to this day. (Yes, you are
familiar with this story - the attempted-genocidal, grotesque treatment
of the Native American is the model Adolph Hitler used for the widely
known attempted genocide of the Jewish people - the Holocaust.)
The Dakota 38
is just one of those selective instances American history has tried to
forget. The very public, simultaneous, mass hanging of 38 Native
Americans, for refusing to eat grass and endure mass tribal starvation
on their encroached reservation lands, is discussed only in very hushed
circles, is not taught in schools, and certainly is not a plaquared
moment at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Springfield, Illinois. And
certainly not discussed is the digging up of the bodies to use as
scientific experiments shortly after the execution.
But the Oceti
Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires, do have Mr. Jim Miller, a U.S. Vietnam
Veteran and descendent of the Dakotas themselves. Mr. Miller first
organized the annual journey from South Dakota back to their original
homelands in Minnesota in 2005.
The Dakota 38+2 Memorial Ride
came to Mr. Miller, who had no prior knowledge of the mass execution,
through a series of visions and dreams. The arduous 330-mile memoriam
ride, via horseback, commences on December 10th, on the banks of the
Missouri River at the Lower Brule' Indian Reservation in South
Dakota.
Sixteen days later, a ceremonial ending of the ride occurs at the
hanging site in Mankato, Minnesota, 10 AM, December 26th. The mass
execution of the Dakota 38 still leaves Native America searching for
healing and reconciliation.
It is a ride of remembrance, healing,
and honor for the descendents of those who died protecting their women,
children, homes, and the very land they were born upon. The Dakota 38
should move all of us to a conversation. A conversation about healing,
unity, education, and reconciliation. The Native American deserves their
history be told, in full truth, no matter how ugly history has treated
them. It is time we celebrate America's indigenous people and culture,
and set free America's 500 Nations.
They were not just born IN America. They ARE America.
[Writer's Note:
REBELMANN's
knowledge of the Dakota 38 came about after visiting Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation and Wounded Knee in South Dakota, 2012. The 3 teen brothers
will travel to the Lower Brule' Indian Reservation on December 8th to
participate in the 330-mile horseback ride to Mankato, Minnesota.
Inspired by their story, the teen rock band of brothers wrote their song
"INDIAN LAND," and
plan on releasing the debut rock single in 2015.]
The Dakota 38 Ride is in need of Donations
Cash donations can be made via check, credit card, Paypal or wire transfer to:
The American Indian Institute - Dakota 38 Ride
502 West Mendenhall Street
Bozeman, MT 59715For details, contact Gloria Hazell Derby at: gloria_hd@hotmail.com
Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide
