Fort Snelling

Oral History

Although many Minnesotans know Fort Snelling primarily as a historical military base, its location houses a much deeper history for the Dakota Nation in the United States. The land the fort resides on is an intersecting point for the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers where the Dakota People were brought to life according to the origin stories passed down orally between generations of Dakota. This is a spiritual area for the Dakota tribes, a place known as Bdote (“where two waters come together”). According to Dakota lore, the Bdote is the center of the Earth, and since this is the site of genesis for the Dakota People, the land spiritually belongs to them. Up until European settlers and tradesmen came to North America, the Dakota Nation called Bdote home, cultivating their land for spiritual and agricultural uses; however, the ever-expanding United States government soon encroached upon this land and attempted to make deals with Dakota and Sioux leaders in order to seize it for military and economic purposes.

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