The US & Dakota War of 1862

This year marks the tragic anniversary of one of the bloodiest conflicts the US has ever seen on our soil, but even 150 years later, many still do not fully comprehend how this tragedy occurred and why it is still so controversial today.  Join us for a historic look into the “Causes of the a War and the Aftermath”, that changed the lives of both white settlers and Native Americans in Minnesota forever!

Mark Diedrich is an author, researcher, lecturer, singer, publisher, and artist who began writing about Native Americans in the late 70s.  Since then he has published many books on that subject, “Little Crow and the Dakota War”, “Famous Dakota Chiefs”, “The Odyssey of Chief Standing Buffalo and the Northern Sisseton Sioux”, plus many, many more.

Mark has had many articles published in the Minnesota History Quarterly magazine as well as being asked to write bios of eight Dakota Leaders for the American National Biography Encyclopedia, published by Oxford University Press.  Diedrich was also an advisor for the KTCA documentary, “Dakota Exile”.   In this special program, Mark will discuss the historical circumstances leading up to the Conflict of 1862, and walk you through the sites of the War.  He will then go one step further and explore what happened in the aftermath of the war and how its effects can still be seen and felt today.