Chapter 1

Question of what it means to ‘possess’ or ‘own’ land; and, corrrespondingly, incursion or settlement.
Land ownership described in terms of water — e.g., along rivers to lakes
misunderstanding of nomadic
References and allusions to war, enemies, defense, captives, and human sacrifice

Chapter 2: The period of French contact

This chapter is concerned with establishing that Dakota inhabited Minnesota and portions of neighboring regions since the arrival of the French in the mid-17th century.
It also argues based on place names, and great familiarity with the region, that Dakota have inhabited the area long before that.
1642-43. French Jesuites encounter Dakota; other missionaries follow
French establish trading posts and various French explorers claim everything they can for France.
Dakota et al very interested in metal and munitions.
Relations between Dakota and Ojibwa appear peaceful.
1760. French lose war with the British and trading activity shifts to French and then Americans.
1760s — relations between Dakota and Ojibwe have deteriorated

1815 — first American treaty with the Dakota.
1820: Taliaferro at Ft Snelling: daily journals; relationship & daughter with Dakota woman.
1820’s-30s. Peace treaties between Dakota and Ojibwe mediated by Taliaferro — 1825 praeirie du churn. We
Makes point that Dakota moved about land strategically and seasonally.
Some Dakota try European-style farming, e.g. at cloudman villiage. The village was abandoned due to Dakota-ogibwe conflict.
Food: muskrat, maple sugar, blueberry, fish (bullhead), buffalo, wild rice, corn, goose, potatoes, cranberry, deer..
The Dakota ball games — among
bands. Gambling. Hundreds of players. Half mile between goals. Ball BBC and racquet.
Summer villages.

Doctrine of Discovery… dates back to papal justification for the crusades
Rules of sympathetic Construction of Indian Treaties— u s Supreme Court.
1805: Pike Treaty. Grant of land to US.
1825: Prairie du Chien treaty. Treaty establishing different tribal territories. But would also make it easier for future land acquisition.
1830: establishment of neutral zones to serve as hunting grounds and to be administered by the US.
1837: cessation of lands east of Mississippi.
1851: cessation of most lands and removal of Dakota to land along 140 miles on both sides of the Minnesota river.
1858: treaty altered to exclude north side of Minnesota river.
1862: delayed annuities lead to uprising, defeat, executions/imprisonment, and exile.
1863: abrogation act transforms all money due Dakota into funds to be paid to settlers.

August/Sept 1862: Dakota uprising in response to insufficient food and unfulfilled promises.
1862: 38 Dakota executed at Ft Snelling. 230+ had their sentences commuted.
1700+ put in concentration camp over winter if 1862; ~300-400 died.
1863: 1310+ exiled to Crow Creek, Dakota territory and then scattered across several states.
1863: a few hundred Dakota remain in Minnesota.
Some Dakota became educated and wrote down stories and histories.
Mounds were not protected until the 1970s.
Controversy over cold water spring and pilot knob. Issue of ‘compromised cultural areas. Written vs oral knowledge.