My research of Glory of the Morning has led to me many paths. All of these paths have led to me help my people. It started with Indian Heights Park and it has just flourished such that I am overwhelmed with opportunities to help my people. There are times, like now, that I feel that I can not go on. There is so much opposition in this town, mainly from the non-native group NAC of SE MN. A group of wannabees that feel GRADS is treading on their turf...uh; you're white, right? Then there are the non native groups that feel that we must be inclusive of ALL people, even those that are not native when it comes to OUR decision making. Sigh! The opportunities are American Indian Day for the Rochester Public School District. We will be having our first powwow in May 2014, but non natives want to take it over. Hey, I wrote the grant and TARGET will be sponsoring the event and the Prairie Island Dance Troupe will help us. I think Shakopee will help us too! I want to shout PLEASE let the Indian people plan the powwow!!!! Sigh! Another opportunity is the Give Them Hope Project that I have started. I funnel the thank you letters from my presentations about Dakota and Ho-Chunk history to the Indian children on certain reservations so they can feel proud of their heritage. These thank you letters are so sweet as they are from children. They are letters from the heart and I want the Indian children to hear the many kind comments I receive about our heritage. It has been slow starting, yet I plod on. Sigh. Lastly, I am now on the Heritage Preservation Commission for a two year term and my main objective is to have Indian Heights Park listed as a significant historic site for the City of Rochester. Everyone else on this commission is concerned about man made edifices, I am not. There are a few sacred sites of our people around town and I aim to preserve them!
All of this, plus my family and church responsibilities make for one tired not so young woman. Sigh.
Now for a spot on GRADS:
GRADS is a real grass roots group committed to reconciliation and
healing. We came about at the time of the 150th Anniversary of the
Dakota Conflict and Mankato 38, and the Park Board's quandary about
whether or not to preserve Indian Heights Park. The park fell into
obscurity mainly because of the exile of the Dakota (and the Ho-Chunk)
in 1862-63. However, records show that the Dakota returned to the park
after the order of exile, at the peril of their own lives!
Mainly because of the efforts of GRADS members and with the help of Mr.
Leonard Wabasha, in 2010-11 the Park Board unanimously voted to preserve
the site because of the Dakota history of the park.
GRADS members arranged to restore the park's proper dignity and its
reconnection with the Dakota people through ceremonies in 2011, 2012 and
2013, led by Mr. Dave Larsen. Elders from the last known Dakota bands
(Mdewakanton, Wahpekute, Wahpeton and Sisseton) were invited back to
Indian Heights Park to share their wisdom about the Dakota history of
this area. We are eternally grateful for Mr. Dave Larsen, Mr. Danny
Seaboy, Mrs. Betty GreenCrow and Dr. Clifford Canku.
The
members of GRADS all have Dakota heritage and/or ancestry. We are a
not profit group registered with the State of MN, but we are NOT a 501
(c) 3 organization because it costs about $1500 to make this so. How
can the many non profit groups afford to become a 501 (c) 3
organization? We are less than a year old, but we have been
unofficially organized since 2010 -11. We have given numerous
presentations on Dakota history and culture, Ho-Chunk history and
culture, we have sponsored Dakota cultural events, and sponsored
American Indian Day for the Rochester Public School District with the
help of our many friends, namely the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux
Community and the Prairie Island Sioux Community. Our GRADS
organization could use your support. With your help, together we can
make a difference.
