Birch Coulee

Back in 1995 an event was put on called the gathering of kinship. It was a run from Mankato to Birch Coulee to commerate the 38 Dakota hanged in 1862--the largest mass execution in U.S. history to this day. At Birch Coulee, people waited for the runners and a 4-day wacipi took place.

I was one of the runners to make the 65 mile relay run along the Minnesota River. This weekend is the 11th annual wacipi. This year there's about 30 dancers and 3 drums. Small traditional wacipi with a lot of specials and memorials.