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."