Fort Snelling, Minnesota – Last week, Native activists established a prayer camp near the site of a former internment camp for Dakota people.
A History of Displacement
The camp is located in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, which currently serves as a major center for immigration enforcement detainment processing. However, the site holds a much deeper and more complex history. During the Dakota Indian Wars, the United States used Fort Snelling as a concentration camp, imprisoning thousands of Dakota and Ho-Chunk people in harsh conditions.
Migizi Spears, a Red Lake Nation citizen and organizer for First Nations United, helped establish the camp alongside Dakota, Nakota, and other tribal citizens. They erected four teepees at Bdóte, a place the Dakota consider a creation site, near where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet and within earshot of the Whipple Building.
Spears stated he felt it was time to reclaim land lost by his ancestors following the Dakota War of 1862. He also noted a parallel between the historical displacement of Dakota people and the current detention and removal of immigrants and Indigenous people at the Whipple Building, stating, “History is repeating itself.”
The camp has attracted support from many Native and other activists, who have brought essentials like firewood, and food. It has also garnered attention from media outlets including CBS News Minnesota and Unicorn Riot, as well as social media influencers.
Fort Snelling currently encompasses the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Fort Snelling State Park, several federal buildings—including the Whipple building—and a recreation of the historic Fort Snelling. The Whipple building is less than a mile from the Historic Fort Snelling complex, which is owned by the state of Minnesota.
Wasuduta, Dakota, emphasized that the apply of the former Fort Snelling site as a federal detention center serves as a reminder of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to deprive Native people and Hispanic immigrants of their rights. He expressed hope for increased involvement from Indigenous peoples, allies, and tribes in efforts to reclaim land for Native people.
Despite a reduction in federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Wasuduta stated the camp will remain, emphasizing a commitment to “hold them accountable with diplomacy” and avoid hostility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the prayer camp located?
The prayer camp is located in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building and a site considered sacred by the Dakota people called Bdóte.
What is the historical significance of Fort Snelling?
Fort Snelling was used as a concentration camp during the Dakota Indian Wars, where thousands of Dakota and Ho-Chunk people were imprisoned in abysmal conditions.
Who established the prayer camp?
Migizi Spears, a Red Lake Nation citizen and organizer for First Nations United, helped establish the camp along with Dakota, Nakota, and other tribal citizens.
What role do activists hope this camp will play in addressing historical and ongoing injustices?
