Fort Snelling

The Bdote

Although it was ceded by the United States in the early 1800s, Fort Snelling is the center of a deep spiritual connection for the Dakota People. The land on which the fort lies is the converging point of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers - a bdote - and is where the Dakota were brought to life according to stories passed down through generations.

This place, known as the Bdote, is the Dakota center of the Earth - the site of genesis for the Dakota People. Despite the presence of Fort Snelling, this piece of land still spiritually belongs to them. The Dakota Nation has always called Bdote home, cultivating the land for spiritual and agricultural uses as far as memory can recall.

For more information on the Bdote, we strongly recommend visiting the Bdote Memory Map, a comprehensive resource on the Dakota People's relationship to the piece of land we currently know as Fort Snelling.

All video rights belong to Mona Smith, Bdote Memory Map.

This page has paths:

This page references: