To the editor:

I see in the March 30, 2023 issue of the New Ulm Journal an article titled “Bills call for transferring ownership of State Park to Upper Sioux.” Before rushing to do that, one needs to first understand what took place there in 1862 during the US – Dakota War, and why it was designated a State Park in the first place.

In the fall of 1862, the Dakota attacked white settlers, primarily in the Minnesota River Valley, killing 600 men, women and children. Among the 600 were 100 children age ten or under. While up to 100 Dakota warriors were killed, no Dakota women or children were killed during the war. Among the 600, at least two were killed and buried at the Upper Sioux. The two currently lie in unmarked graves at unknown locations. With their burials, this is sacred ground and needs to be accorded a minimal level of respect, in a highly visible manner.

Beyond that, during the War, the Dakota took prisoner 150 white women and children, holding them in a horrific and terrifying captivity. Most of these women had just seen their husbands killed by the Dakota and the children had just seen their father killed. As the war progressed, the Dakota retreated up the south side of the Minnesota River, taking their captives with them. So these unfortunates passed through what is now the Upper Sioux State Park, and they may well have camped there. So in memory of these 150 prisoners, this is also sacred ground.

In light of the burials and the presence of the 150 captives, I feel that this land is all sacred and it should not be turned over to the Upper Sioux community. It should be left as a State Park. It was, after all, established because of the presence of the historic Upper Sioux Agency. As such, it needs to be preserved as the historic site it is.

Curtis Dahlin

Roseville