After the Dakota Uprising of 1862, 303 Dakota men were sentenced to death. President Lincoln commuted 264 of their sentences. On December 26, 1862 in Mankato, MN, 38 Dakota men were hanged until dead in the largest single day mass execution in American history. In April 1863, the remaining men, women and children were moved by boat to Nebraska and South Dakota.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children ride (MMIW) was created six years ago to raise awareness and commemorate those who were disappeared during that transition. Riders also bring their own names of loved ones who have been affected by violence since then, those who have been lost and left without a voice.
Their names are not forgotten. In June, 2019, the riders extended their ride by 60 miles, originating from the Santee Reservation in Niobrara, Nebraska, to Fort Thompson and on to the state capitol in Pierre to honor the victims. The Missing and Murdered is a locally produced film, broadcast by SDPB, that tells the history and follows the journey of the riders of today.
The Missing and Murdered
SDPB1: Thursday, May 20, 8pm (7 MT) & Sunday, May 23, 1pm (Noon MT)