Violent Acquisition of Dakota (Indigenous) Land

The Dakota and Ojibwe people were the primary inhabitants of the land that is present-day Minnesota. In 1820, the U.S. Indian Agency was established at Fort Snelling and Indigenous communities were violently removed from their land. A wave of anti-Indigenous laws and policies followed, starting with the Indian Removal Act. The U.S.-Dakota War occurred in 1862. Elliot Park is situated on violently acquired Dakota land and various industries have been built upon that land, using its vital resources — many of which are sacred to the Dakota people. These industries have since made their owners very wealthy, while leaving Indigenous communities with almost no decision-making power over the land.