Comments on: Dakota Concentration Camp display at Fort Snelling St. Park

By: AB

AB — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:42:05 +0000

Can it really be called a concentration camp? or was it an internment camp? Internment camp is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The term “concentration camp” carries many of the connotations of “extermination camp.” Just wondering what other thoughts on this matter were. I found it interesting that they changed it in 1997.

By: Dr Tom Weaver nupa chan duta ska

Dr Tom Weaver nupa chan duta ska — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:55:32 +0000

Mitakuyapi, My relatives, Nupa chan duta ska, “two spirited sycamore tree” here. Thanks for the site. I am learning about websites and blogs and education and networking there on. I met some German friends at a sun dance 3 1/2 years ago in SD, and they are flying to Minnesota in mid May. I went down to the Ft Snelling State Park 10th annual pipe ceremony, led this time by Jimmy Anderson, Mendota Dakota Historian, and joined in the singing for the 10th year . I made committment to Bob Brown, the Mendota Dakota Community Chair and visionary that I would come and sing and support his people to connect to the spirits of the ancestors as long as I was around and able.
Wopida Tonka for your web site. What kind of program do you use? Please email me off line as I want to develop something more than the blog I just started at the URL above over the weekend.
Blessings, Wichozani, Mitakuye Oyasin. Tom W

By: Kathryn Keithley

Kathryn Keithley — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:05:07 +0000

I am a decendent of Gabriel Renville-the son of Victor Renville and Abigail-Winona Crawford. After Victor was killed Winona married Joseph “Akipa” Renville. Charles and Thomas are their sons but go by Crawford as surname in a lot of the history. I would love a great big family reunion. We all actually came from France. Joseph Rainville decendents.Some other relatives are known as Drainville or De Rainville.I am sure there is a lot more information and pictures out there that I would love to hear about and see.

By: Native American Minnesota - A journey of learning and understanding » MNHS article: Survival at Crow Creek, 1863-1866

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:52:41 +0000

[...] Hyman also refers to the concentration / internment camp at Fort Snelling as a “disease-ridden enclosure” and the accompanying photograph of the camp has the [...]

By: Brian Renville

Brian Renville — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:49:59 +0000

Hi actually came upon this by accident and noticed we share a name.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:02:28 +0000

Hi Brian
I think a reunion would be a great idea. i would love to see the places that I have read so much about. Which one would be a good place for a big reunion? Must check out facilities to see where would work for a big crowd….V

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:31:48 +0000

Thanks,, there is so much.. reason I mention the documentary project is to invite as many relatives, Renvilles and connected kin and friends to participate. How would a Renville reunion go over? At Ft. Snelling? Joseph Renville was born just down the bank from the fort.. in the old Kaposia Village there. Mendota? Lac Qui Parle? This could be a big and interesting gathering.. B

By: Holly Cairns

Holly Cairns — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:39:14 +0000

Wow, Brian, that’s a lot. I’d really like to see that documentary.

Brian said:

The fact that a respected, religious and entrepreneurial family like ours were interred is indicative of the hysteric madness that ensued!

The fact that ANYONE was interred, or imprisoned, in those camps is indicative of hysteric madness… or of something else.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:50:20 +0000

Joseph Renville b.1779 was step father to Gabriel, who was Victor Renville’s son. Victor, Josephs brother was killed in battle near Grantsburg, wisconsin when Gabe was 8yo.. The Joseph listed here was the second or first son of Joseph b. 1808. The other Renvilles are all Josephs family from Lac Qui Parle. The Renville killed by Sioux in 1863 while delivering mail, was Francois Renville of Pembina, who is considered one of Joseph’s first or second sons. Not sure why the Renvilles were interred at Snelling, as it was the Renville Rangers led by Antoine Renville who saved the lives of hundreds of white settlers!! The war was typical of frontier hooliganism!! The american Indian agents and the merchants in St. Paul were corrupt, profiteers. They hoarded the rations of food sent by Washington as agreed by treaty (Treaty of St. Peters)and even inflated the prices on that food so that the Dakota were in constant debt for supplies that were their OWN!!! and of course the winter of 1862 was one of the worst on record!!
The stories of starvation, illness and frustration are extremely gut wrenching! The fact that a respected, religious and entrepreneurial family like ours were interred is indicative of the hysteric madness that ensued! The level of racism has not been equalled! The Renvilles stayed in Lac Qui Parle after the war, but Little Crows bunch came up here to Winnipeg and were granted refugee status. Five Dakota Bands still exist in Manitoba, all descend from this incident. There are many Renville relatives among them. Elders Solomon Hall’s, Rod Bunn’s and Hotain all of Sioux Valley First Nation have Renville Grannies. The Mini family descend from Miniyuhe, Joseph Renville’s mom! and so on. The National Film Board of Canada is currently developing a television documentary connecting the Renvilles of Minnesota with the Ranvilles of Manitoba, and will depict how that connection is one result of the “1862 Dakota Conflict”. How we became Canadian, yet all our ancestors are in Minnesota! Well, many are at Sisseton and Spirit Lake.
There is so much history to correct. B

By: Holly

Holly — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:22:19 +0000

Wow, it really doesn’t seem fair to kill someone for helping others. What a mess it was back then. Sorry for yor family loss.

I wish the US would have paid the Sioux as was the agreed upon plan. i bet it’s tough to watch your family members starve to death while you know you’re due money. No wonder there was an uprising.

And I really wish Lincoln would have investigated more before he condemned people to death.