For Chaska, maybe a pardon

A proposed resolution by the Minnesota Legislature would pardon Chaska, one of 38 Dakota hanged in December 1862 following the Minnesota-Dakota conflict

May 3, 2011 at 5:21PM

Chaska may finally be pardoned. The Minnesota Legislature is considering asking President Obama and Congress to pardon Chaska, also known as We-Chank-Wash-ta-don-pee, for his heroism during the Minnesota-Dakota conflict of 1862. Chaska, according to an inquiry after the conflict, helped save the life of Sarah Wakefield and her children during the incident. But Chaska was one of 38 Dakota men who were hanged on Dec. 26, 1862 for crimes allegedly committed during the conflict. According to an inquiry by Rev. Stephen Riggs, who was assigned to interview those accused of crimes, Riggs found "no testimony against the man [Chaska] of any kind."

about the writer

about the writer

mikekaszuba

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.