Near the small town of Mendota, Minnesota at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Minnesota River is the birthplace of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota people.
This tribal community was among those called the “Loyal Dakota†who helped Minnesota settlers escape from danger during the 1862 Dakota war. They experienced trauma and suffering during the war and subsequent displacement and injustice. In spite of adversity, this is a community of people who has continued their existence for nearly 150 years since the war.
By Act of Congress of 1863 the Mendota Dakota were allowed to stay in Mendota with promise of land and money. This promise was broken. The community disbursed throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area and beyond in order to work and survive.
In 1991 tribal leaders began to reestablish their presence in their historic home of Mendota. They have been a great asset to the broader Minnesota community. Over 20 years they shared their history and culture through Powwows, a trading post, language classes, a website and presentations at churches, high schools, colleges and universities. Many of these efforts continue.
Today they are struggling to keep their community center and presence in Mendota. We believe it’s important that the Mendota Dakota community maintain a presence in Mendota and a land base that they own. We believe that the government must honor the Act of Congress of 1863 that allows them to maintain a presence in their historical homeland.
We urge the Senator to support tribal efforts to obtain a land base in Mendota and support them in their efforts to enforce the Act of Congress of 1863. We urge the Senator to recognize the valuable contributions of Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota community to all Minnesotans.