The coming days will be tough for the Dakota 38 + 2 Memorial Ride. The riders especially could use your prayers, organizers said, as they head east toward their final destination of Reconciliation Park in Mankato, Minnesota on December 26th.
Subzero temperatures are forecast to greet the group and their support crews each day this week. Coming into Moody County late last week, it was blinding snow, strong winds and icy conditions that had riders circle up on Thursday in Colman and cut the day short. It was just too risky for the riders and horses — vehicles still out on the road had a tough time seeing them until they were upon them. The horses were trailered from Colman to Flandreau, where the ride traditionally spends a couple of nights each year before continuing on. At least one support vehicle and horse trailer slid off the road on the way. Fortunately everyone, including the horses, were okay.
The ride has certainly not been easy thus far, this year or any year, quite frankly. Weather has always been a challenge, which one might expect mid-late December in the region. The pain and the challenges however, are nothing compared to what those who take part each December understand that their ancestors endured.

The 330-mile ride begins in Lower Brule and ends in Mankato on the same day that 38 Dakota men and two others were hanged publicly following the U.S. Dakota War. The ride aims to bring awareness to the tragic true history of the war, and to foster healing and reconciliation for all.
This will be the last year for the ride, however as the last four senior riders from the original event say it is time. Flandreau’s Josette Peltier, who has taken part each year since 2007 as part of the support team, agrees.
“For me, reconciliation has taken place. Coming from Lower Brule to Mankato, I’ve worked hard. It takes a lot of work to bring that healing and awareness. I went to communities and met people I didn’t know, talked with strangers, told them what the ride was about, and I remember the first years that I started cooking, we fed the riders on the road in the cold,” said Peltier.
She knows not everyone feels the same, adding, “We need to heal inside whatever it is we need healing from and if we can’t heal within here, then how are we going to help others heal? I really believe that has to take place within ourselves and I think this ride has done that for a lot of us and those that have supported us,” said Peltier.
She and many others, including some of the younger riders, say they still plan to work toward educating others on the history and work toward healing in many of the communities they’ve come to know over the years.
“This world needs it, we all need to come together and share and be kind to one another,” said Peltier. “In our ways, we say be a good relative. It’s good to shake hands when you meet someone and wish them the best and have that love and compassion because if you don’t have that, you’re going nowhere. You’re going to be hurting within yourself. For me, reconciliation has happened and it’s happening, maybe not as fast as we want it but over the years I’ve seen it. We need that, we’ve only got one planet. My brother says, we all have to share this planet so why can’t we share it together and make it a good one for our young ones. What are we going to leave for our young ones, all that mistrust? All that hatred that everybody has for each other? Are we going to leave that race card for our young ones? I hope not because I have a lot of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I want them to be able to enjoy life like I did.”