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Promoting "The Indian System" Documentary

I've been very busy lately, attending screenings of "The Indian System." After every showing, Sheldon Wolfchild and I sit on the stage with microphones and take questions and comments from the audience. Our audiences have been moderate to small, however, most of the comers are interested in the topic of the film. We have received a good number of congratulatory speakings. But we are anxious to get the film in front of people who can do something to further the reconciliation between Minnesota and the Dakota people. With this in view, I have contacted Steve Elliott of the Minnesota Historical Society, asking for a screening at the History Center. I have written to Minnesota Public Radio for an interview. Have also contacted the Rochester Post Bulletin for the same. Today I even wrote Governor Mark Dayton. I asked him to call us for a viewing of the film, with the hope that he would put some weight behind his words, calling for reconciliation. The film should be required viewing for every Minnesotan. Would he make that possible? I'll let you know when I get some replies.

Diedrich on "The Indian System" at MinnesotaHistory.net

A new documentary on the causes of 1862
August 21st, 2012  by Sojourner

A new documentary, produced and directed by Dakota activist and artist Sheldon P. Wolfchild, chronicling the tragic events of 1862 from the Dakota point of view, which has already been shown at several venues, will be shown again as part of a series of 1862 events on August 23, at Turner Hall, 102 South State St., New Ulm, Minnesota, and on August 26th, 1pm, 3:30pm and 6pm at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. It is expected that there will be other showings of the film at Fort Snelling State Park or other locations in September. Wolfchild will be present at these scheduled showings. In addition, historian Mark Diedrich will appear with Wolfchild at the Parkway showing on August 26. Mark Diedrich, who has written numerous books on American Indian history in Minnesota has provided MinnesotaHistory.net the following account of his involvement in the documentary:

As I have been writing on Dakota people for the past thirty years, I am very sympathetic to them. However, my intention as a historian and author was never to misrepresent the truth, but rather to find out what the truth was. In the ten years leading up to the Dakota War there was much injustice toward the Dakota in Minnesota. This story has never been adequately told, but the gist of it is in my Little Crow book, published in 2006. Unfortunately, there are few outlets for such books and those who do find it, generally take or leave what they want in it. I was fortunate to team up this year with Sheldon Wolfchild and Bill Weiss regarding a documentary called Star Dreamers, which has three parts, some as yet unfinished. The first part is what is titled “The Indian System.” Sheldon and Bill have utilized me personally and my work a great deal in this film, along with David Nichols, who wrote Lincoln and the Indians. Due to this commemorative year, Sheldon is trying to get “The Indian System” out for public viewing. We have been in New Ulm and also at the Parkway Theater in south Minneapolis. Showings at Fort Snelling are in the works. We are hoping that the MHS will allow a screening at the History Center. This film does not mince words about how the “Indian System” brought the Dakota to such a low point that they thought it would be better to die in a war than starve to death. I hope that many will urge that this documentary be screened at appropriate venues. We are not insensitive to the innocent settlers who died ugly and gruesome deaths. As is stated in the film, we wish Governor Ramsey had heeded the warnings provided him, to open the warehouse doors and feed the starving Lower Dakota. That said, we name names in this film, and this gives a chance for viewers to assign blame and culpability to key people who were largely responsible for bringing on this war. I am personally sick of the general whitewashing we see in historical writings. Historians need to see that there was a cover-up of the causes of the war. I have spent years trying to unravel this cover-up. I had nothing in mind other than to get at the truth, as far as it can be determined. Please lend your voice to a screening of this film in whatever way you can.

Mark and Sheldon Wolfchild, at New Ulm screening of "The Indian System," August 16, 2012 at Martin Luther College.

Wolfchild, authors mull ‘Indian System’--is the title of a New Ulm Journal article, published today, August 17, 2012. It reviews last night's screening of The Indian System. Check it out. Probably about 100 people attended the event.