Winona Dakota Unity Alliance History
The Winona Dakota Unity Alliance (WDUA) began its history in 2003-04 in response to the Grand Excursion 04 (GE04), the 150th anniversary of the original Grand Excursion, under the direction of President Millard Fillmore. The original excursion was a flotilla of paddle wheel steamships celebrating the opening of the upper Mississippi to large boat traffic, providing travelers opportunities to see the newly acquired western lands opening for development. Cities visited by the original flotilla along the upper Mississippi were encouraged to plan celebratory events for visiting passengers and communities. The City of Winona organized a GE04 committee to plan the local events. In the planning process, it became apparent that the American Indians of the upper Mississippi and the impact of the original Grand Excursion on their histories and daily lives had not been included in the celebration. The Winona committee wanted to recognize formally and include the Dakota people who had inhabited the area before the opening of the west.
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History of the Moccasin Game
The moccasin game may have originated in the late 1700’s or very early 1800’s, from a surprise encounter between two hunter warriors from two tribes who spoke different language and had different traditions and culture.
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The Diversity Foundation - The Diversity Foundations has been a wonderful partner in our efforts to promote reconciliation and build community links with the Dakota Nations. They were instrumental in founding the WDUA and have supported our activities since the first Dakota Gathering. Visit them at www.diversityfoundation.org.
Winona Dakota Unity Alliance History - (continued) A new subcommittee was formed which became the future basis of the WDUA. Tribal representatives and subcommittee members met in Winona and on Dakota reservations to plan an event of reconciliation and homecoming. The result of the planning was the 1st Great Dakota Gathering and Homecoming, June 2004, shortly before the arrival of the flotilla.
Subcommittee members (now the WDUA) realized that truth and reconciliation were essential in order for the communities to come together. Education of the public about the history and culture of the Dakota people was vital as well. They recognized that this was a chance for the Dakota and the community of Winona to work together in understanding our commonalities, differences, and the true history from several perspectives while forging a new future. They also recognized the gravity and importance of what they were undertaking. The only blueprints for such an activity that were available were the South African model of truth and reconciliation procedures and the wacipi (powwow) organizational structure. This new committee worked with Dakota tribal and spiritual leaders as guides through the process. As a result, the 1st Gathering had the following components held at Lake Park, Winona:
1. A Saturday public truth and reconciliation forum attended by local, state, and federal representatives, clergy from Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, and Dakota and Winona community members.
2. A Sunday ecumenical service including Dakota and Winona clergy and music groups from Minneapolis.
3. Wacipi (powwow) with a Grand Entry on each day.
4. Moccasin Tournament
5. Four community meals
6. American Indian vendors
7. Professional American Indian singers and musicians
The City of Winona and major financial contributors helped to launch the 1st Great Dakota Gathering and Homecoming. Community volunteers staffed the event.
The success of the event encouraged the subcommittee to formalize its functioning as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Winona Dakota Unity Alliance in time to work with the City of Winona in planning the 2nd Gathering held in June 2005. Since then, the WDUA with the generous support from the City of Winona, businesses, other non-profits, and individuals, has organized gathering events each year for a total of six events. Community members have responded with enthusiasm in the forms of volunteering and attending activities.
WDUA-Sponsored Events
2003
1. GE04 Dakota subcommittee forms; members begin to meet and plan events.
2. Subcommittee members meet with Dakota leaders from Canada and the US in both Winona and at the Sisseton, SD reservation.
2004
1. GE04 subcommittee members visit reservations.
2. Dinner is held for invited Winona community members representing churches, public and private schools, post secondary education, and non-profits and Dakota guests.
3. 1st Gathering and Homecoming
2005
1. The subcommittee becomes the Winona Dakota Unity Alliance (WDUA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
2. 2nd Annual Gathering
3. The WDUA co-sponsors outreach with the Diversity Foundation (Minneapolis) and SEMN Technical College. Donations of clothing were collected and delivered to reservations (Dakota Outreach) by SE Tech OTR drivers.
2006
1. Annual members meeting. Program features guest speaker Cindy Lindquist, President, Candeska Cikana (Little Hoop) Community College
2. 3rd Annual Gathering, featuring an improved Educational Encampment
3. The WDUA co-sponsors donation outreach with the Diversity Foundation (Minneapolis) and SEMN Technical College.
2007
1. Annual members meeting. Program features Unity Park landscape plans, Joanne Bird and Lyon Smith, sculpture artists.
2. WDUA, WSU and local veteran groups co-sponsor Veterans Honoring Ceremony at WSU, especially honoring Woodrow Keeble (recipient of the Medal of Honor), Clarence Wolfguts, and George Wabasha. Local and tribal honor guards participated as well as the Mazakute Drum Group.
3. The WDUA helps to facilitate school performances at District 861 featuring Jackie Bird and Mazakute Drum Group.
4. 4th Annual Gathering, theme of “Honoring Our Veterans”
5. Veteran bricks honoring American Indian veterans are added to the memorial walk at Lake Park.
6. The WDUA co-sponsors donation outreach with the Diversity Foundation (Minneapolis) and SEMN Technical College.
2008
1. Annual members meeting. Program features board member speakers, developments of Unity Park, truth and reconciliation circle, Dakota Outreach, and Minnesota Capital for a Day.
2. The WDUA co-sponsors “Dakota Uprising” and “Dakota Exile” films at the Frozen River Film Festival. Dakota elder, Mike Holtane, speaks to the audience after the film.
3. The Capital For a Day activities include Mazakute Drum, Ho Chunk Drum, Anishinabe Drum, and Dakota, Ho Chunk, Anishinabe honor guards. In recognition of Capital for a Day, a truth and reconciliation circle is held and includes indigenous people of Minnesota.
4. 5th Annual Gathering, theme of “Celebrating Unity”
5. Veteran bricks honoring American Indian veterans are added to the
memorial walk at Lake Park.
6. Mazakute Drum performs at the multicultural presentation with Winona’s Paddle For Life and Capital for a Day activities.
7. The WDUA co-sponsors donation outreach with the Diversity Foundation (Minneapolis) and SEMN Technical College.
8. The WDUA initiates work on the Covenant of Friendship and Reconciliation, formalizing the new relationship between the City of Winona and Dakota Nations (Covenant).
2009
1. Annual members meeting. Program features guest speaker Ramona Kitto,
Indian Education
2. The WDUA co-sponsors “American Outrage” with Frozen River Film Festival
3. 6th Annual Gathering, theme of “Honoring Women”
4. Veteran bricks honoring American Indian veterans are added to the memorial walk at Lake Park.
5. Dakota Gold Star mothers (lost children in active duty) and Blue Star mothers (children currently in active duty) are honored with specially designed shawls. Women veterans and women in active service are also honored.
7. Fundraising concert features Lightwalker.
8. American and Canadian reservation are visited to finalize the Covenant.
The Great Dakota Gathering and Homecoming
The major event that the WDUA organizes and sponsors is the Great Dakota Gathering and Homecoming held on the first full weekend of June. The event showcases Dakota culture through many activities. One of the most important activities is the truth-telling circle where individuals are given opportunities to tell their stories as part of the healing process and bring the communities closer together in an atmosphere of respect and understanding. Due to its importance, it has remained in the prominent scheduling position of Saturday morning. On Sunday morning, an ecumenical spiritual service takes place.
The Educational Encampment features artists and cultural advisors where visitors can see traditional craft demonstrations, hear songs and story telling, and have meaningful conversations regarding aspects of culture and history. The Moccasin Tournament, a traditional competitive game, is international in feeling, as many of the teams come from Canada. Two grand entries of dancers led by Dakota honor guards occur on each afternoon. American Indian vendors offer quality merchandise. Saturday evening stage entertainment has included Jackie Bird, Annie Humphrey, the Little Birds, Bryan Akipa, Lightwalker, John Trudell, and Bill Miller.
Four meals are offered: two early morning breakfasts, a Saturday evening meal and a Sunday noon meal. A local organization has helped to organize and supply a Friday evening potluck for volunteers and early arriving Dakota guests. The National Eagle Center sends an eagle and its handler to answer visitor questions. An information booth staffed by volunteers is open throughout the event. As people have begun to develop friendships, informal activities such as boating, hiking, and driving tours have developed.
The Gathering has been held at the JayCee Pavilion at Lake Park (2004-2008). In 2009, the Unity Park project was completed and its centerpiece, the dance circle was used for the first time at the Sunday Grand Entry. This project has meant much to the WDUA and the Dakota. The City of Winona in its support of the Gathering designated this part of the Lake Park as Unity Park, in honor of a renewed relationship with the Dakota. A local professional landscape designer worked with Dakota consultants on its design, including proper rock placements, entries, and appropriate native plants. The WDUA views this project as historical in nature due to its purposeful design and use. As part of the Lake Park, the space is available for other events as well. All six events have had handicap accessibility and facilities as well as designated handicap parking.
Attendance is estimated by the number of meals served at the event. Buttons are sold to the public ($5) and given to our Dakota guests and are necessary to receive any or all of the meals. During the 2009 event, buttons were sold at the entrance to the event. ....Back to History Articles
History of the Moccasin Game (continued)
These two tribes would at times have disputes over territorial and hunting rights, otherwise they coexisted comfortably. On one occasion when the two tribes were on a fall hunt to have a supply of meat for the winter, two hunter warriors of one of the tribes spotted a very large herd of elk in a semi-forest, bushy area, one of the hunter warriors started back for the main camp to bring as many hunters that were available. The other hunter warrior followed the elk, marking the trail as he went being very careful not to spook the elk out of the territory. At the same time two hunter warriors of the other tribe spotted the same herd of elk and one of them also went back to his camp to bring as many hunters as possible.
The two hunter warriors who were trailing the herd of elk unknowingly were in the same vicinity and both came out of the brush, into a small clearing. The encounter was a complete surprise, which normally would bring on actions that would lead to terrible consequences for either one or both.
The two hunter warriors were mindful of their mission and realized the death of one or the other or both would mean the denial of a large supply of meat for their tribe.
One of the hunters suggested that each put four moccasins in a row in front of them, hide an object under one of the moccasins; the other would find a stick or any such object to strike the moccasin that he thinks the object was hidden under.
They both agreed they would take all their arrows and put them together at one end of the row of four moccasins and at the other end of the moccasins they would put their knives, hatchets and other things they valued. Whoever won all the combined arrows would be the victor and would claim the arrows, the knives, the hatchets, the elk or anything else he demanded, even the other warrior’s life. But after playing this game for a long time, the two warrior hunters became friends and agreed that this was the away they should settle future disputes.
These were the times when warrior hunters on a long journey carried extra moccasins to replace the ones worn out. This story of the origin of the moccasin game was told by a Mdewakanta Dakota Elder by the name of Eli Taylor from Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Canada who passed away on January 10, 1999 at the age of 92. ....Back to History Articles