The Dakota Conflict 1993

Overview

In 1862, when Minnesota was still a young state, the people of the Eastern Dakota Nation had been relegated to a reservation on a narrow strip of land along the Minnesota River. Times were hard and Dakota families went hungry. When the U.S. government broke its promises and failed to send treaty payments, some of the Dakota went to war against the white settlers. Many Dakota did not join in, choosing to aid and protect settlers instead. The fighting lasted six weeks and many people on both sides