Ceremony for Reconciliation and Remembrance held for Indigenous Peoples Day

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - While Indigenous People’s Day is recognized in communities around the country.

The day holds even greater significance in Mankato... because of a mass hanging of over 30 Dakota Native Americans in 1862.

Organizers of today’s event say forgiveness and peace is the key to moving forward.

A bell tolls 38 times..., recognizing 38 Dakota who lost their lives on December 26, 1862.

The Veterans For Peace organization led Mankato residents, and others, through Reconciliation Park for a remembrance ceremony.

“Veterans for Peace recognizes that we’re on stolen land and this was done by a heinous crime of stealing people’s land,” said James Brown, Veterans For Peace member and Mankato resident.

The organization, along with 80-year Mankato resident James Brown, say forgiveness is an important part of healing and moving forward.

“For 50 years, I never saw Indigenous people. They were not welcome in Mankato and now they are, and that makes a huge difference,” Brown said.

The horrific actions that took place over 150 years ago were not always taught in schools and many still are not completely aware of the details. It’s events like these that help inform others about that painful history and help find peace for the future.

“As I got older and especially when I moved here over a year ago, that I learned that the impact was actually rather large and it’s still felt today - especially in the Mankato area,” said Andy Anderson, North Mankato resident.

Roughly 25 people showed up to the event, walking in silence and remembering what the Dakota 38 went through.

Thanks to the help of organizations and more events taking place marking Indigenous Peoples Day, many people are able to learn more about history and reshape the future.

“I don’t want to know just this history -I wanna be involved. Um, you know I uh as a settler descendent, it’s something that I feel like is my duty,” Anderson said.

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