Dakota 38+2: Remembering the Warriors Who Stood for Their People
Posted: September 16, 2025
From the desk of the KING:
The story of the Dakota 38+2 is not one of defeat, but of courage, sacrifice, and enduring sovereignty.
In 1862, during the U.S.–Dakota War, the Dakota people rose up not as rebels, but as protectors of their families, elders, and children who faced starvation because of broken treaties and stolen lands.
Dakota 38+2 Wokiksuye riders finish the last stretch of their 330-mile ride along Riverfront Avenue in Mankato on their way to Reconciliation Park in 2022. | Image from https://www.mankatofreepress.com/
The story of the Dakota 38+2 is not one of defeat, but of courage, sacrifice, and enduring sovereignty. In 1862, during the U.S.–Dakota War, the Dakota people rose up not as rebels, but as protectors of their families, elders, and children who faced starvation because of broken treaties and stolen lands. For their resistance, 38 men were executed in Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862, followed by two more in 1864. They are remembered not as victims, but as warriors who stood for their people.
Each year, the Dakota Oyáte honor this living memory through the Dakota 38+2 Memorial Ride, a 330-mile journey of prayer, remembrance, and healing. Their story is not only Dakota history—it is Indigenous history, and it is world history.
In a recent letter from the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, powerful parallels are drawn between the struggles of the Dakota and the Hawaiian people. Both nations endured broken promises, loss of sovereignty, and attempts to erase their existence—yet both continue to endure, carrying forward the breath and mission of their ancestors.
This reflection reminds us that remembrance is not meant to stir resentment, but to inspire healing, justice, and unity among all Indigenous peoples.
We invite you to read the full letter, which honors the Dakota 38+2 and calls us to walk forward together with compassion, memory, and strength.
Read the full letter below: