St. Mary’s parish in Sleepy Eye, MN welcomes Dakota Marchers

by Wayne Pelzel

St. Mary’s School of Sleepy Eye, MN hosted a group of Dakota people overnight on November 7, 2002.

These Dakota people, who came from Canada and various states in the U.S., joined together as part of a 150 mile Commemo-rative March through southern Minnesota. This march was held to honor their ancestors who were forcibly removed from the Lower Sioux Agency to concentration camps at Mankato and Fort Snelling in November 1862, following the Dakota War - U.S. War of 1862.

Fr. Brian Oestreich, pastor at St. Mary’s parish, Sleepy Eye, held a candlelight service at St. Mary’s School as a part of the welcome to the Dakota people. The service was a gesture of peace to the Dakota people as well. Mattresses were assembled in the school field house where visitors slept. A buffalo stew was served to those in attendance. By 7:00 a.m. the next morning the travelers were on the road to New Ulm where they spent the next night.

The Commemorative March concluded at Fort Snelling in St. Paul on November 13.

Wayne Pelzel is principal of St. Mary's Elementary School, Sleepy Eye.