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NEW DVD: BUDGET OF GRIEF: Causes of the Dakota War of 1862
featuring Mark Diedrich and produced by Bill Weiss

The following is a press release announcing my talk in Hutchinson, Minnesota, in May 2012. This talk was filmed by Bill Weiss and will be released in August in dvd form. It will include the lecture, along with a live performance of "Ten Bears' Song," and a new song and music video with Mark Diedrich performing "Taoyateduta is not a Coward."

The US & Dakota War of 1862 “Causes of the War & the Aftermath”
Submitted by Lori on April 26, 2012
The US & Dakota War of 1862
“Causes of the War & the Aftermath”

with Author Mark Diedrich



Sunday, May 6th, 2-4 PM Museum Meeting Room
$5 for adults-Kids under 12 years are free

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.

The first listener review on The Comfort Abounds cd at Google play makes special mention of "If the Path I Travel." It reads: "You will be
moved to the uttermost with the arrangement and the profound lyrics to M. E. Barber's classic hymn, 'If the Path I Travel.'" I agree wholeheartedly.

IF THE PATH I TRAVEL Anyone wishing to hear my music to the beloved hymn of Margaret E. Barber, go to www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/nt/377

If the Path I Travel

I recently became aware of some confusion out there on the internet. There was hymn written by M. E. Barber, a missionary associated with helping the young Watchman Nee in China. Her hymn is actually a prayer that, in spite of suffering and loss, she would gain a closer communion and relationship with Christ. I wrote a new melody for this hymn, which will shortly be released on the cd The Comfort Abounds. I copyrighted my If the Path I Travel melody in 1986, shortly after it was written. I trust that singers or musicians interested in the song will give my copyright and authorship proper notice and regard.

O, the beauty of Ojibway floral design beadwork. This piece is in the museum on Madeline Island.

Bill Weiss and I ran over to the Sibley House in Mendota today. Boy, was it a hot one! I recently studied up on SIbley's involvement with the Dakota treaties of 1851. He manipulated the whole event in order to bail out his fur trade business at Dakota expense. Bill did the camera work, while I told the story. It will become a segment in a film, produced by Sheldon Wolfchild, regarding the causes of the Dakota War of 1862. How ever one regards Sibley, the old limestone buildings are beautiful. Sibley had the first stone house in what was to become Minnesota, built in 1836. I am standing in front of the fur warehouse.

My wife and I were to the Madeline Island museum on Lake Superior, across from Bayfield, WI. They exhibit a portrait of Chief Buffalo, whom I wrote about in my Ojibway Chiefs book. They also have a photo of Buffalo's bust which is in one of the Washington DC buildings.