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NICOLLET COUNTY -- More than 50 participants rode horseback and walked on Nicollet County Highway 21 Monday, en route to Mankato Monday.
The Dakota 38 + 2 Wokiksuye Memorial riders began the 330-mile journey at the Lower Brule Reservation on the west bank of the Missouri River in South Dakota. The ride is to honor the 38 plus 2 Dakota warriors hanged in Mankato Dec. 26, 1862.
The entourage passed the 300-mile mark Monday, riding 25 miles from Fort Ridgely State Park to the Courtland Community Center.
Young riders and teenagers pounded on drums as the riders flowed into the Courtland Community Center late Monday afternoon.
The group plans to ride from Courtland to Land of Memories Park in Mankato Tuesday before resting on Christmas Day. The group will visit the Mankato hanging site Thursday, where the largest mass hanging in U.S. history took place 157 years ago.
The ride began in 2005 by Cheyenne River tribe enrolled member Jim Miller, a descendant of the Dakotas who were displaced after the hangings.
Miller dreamed of horseback rides that would bring the Dakota people together and raise awareness of the significant impact of the event still being felt by the hangings.
The ride honors the men, women and children forced to march across the cold prairies to the mass hanging site in Mankato or to a large concentration camp for Dakota families at Fort Snelling.
Riders and walkers receive donations from supporters. Food is often donated along the route.
In Marshall, the group was offered chili from Living Word Lutheran Church congregants. A dozen church volunteers served chili, bread, fruit and desert. The church has supported the riders for a number of years.
Participants come from the Midwest, sometimes as far away as New York and California. This year's group includes a German researcher for a peace education class at The University of Koblenz in Landau.
Each day's events begin and end with a prayer.
Josett Peltier of Flandrau, S.D., the group's cook and co-logistics coordinator, said interest in the ride continues to grow.
"It was very cold at the start of the ride, but the weather has improved as we moved east," Peltier said. "The Creator has been good to us. We have a lot of new, young riders."
Peltier said new participants include a number of Canadians.
Beatle and Heather Soop of Regina, Saskachewan were among the newcomers. Beatle is an equine therapist. Heather works with indigenous community outreach and consulting.
"We have a ride like this in Saskachewan but it's in August and very hot. It was 90 to 95 degrees this year," Beatle said. "On the ride, we stayed in teepees next to the horses."
He said equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development empowers people through personal and physical experiences. The global organization, eagala has more than 2,500 members in 45 countries.
"Our ride is modeled after this ride," Heather Soop said. "The people that lead this ride are our mentors."
Wilfred Keeble of Fort Thompson, S.D. said the riders found the people of Russell, Mn very warm and friendly.
"They invited us into their new school, fed us and talked to us," Keeble said. "We're glad to be here, after riding horses for 300 miles. We're very happy for this."
Dakota 38 + 2 Memorial Ride Supporters have supported the ride since 2008. A Facebook site listed the seven Dakota/Lakota/Nakota values important for the group to remember and follow: prayer, respect, compassion, generosity, humility, wisdom and honesty.
Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com