Free Film, “Dakota 38,” to be shown at North Dakota Heritage Center & State Muse

The public is invited to attend a free film, “Dakota 38,” at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum on Monday, Dec. 26 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. in the Russell Reid Auditorium. On Dec. 26, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln’s order to hang 38 Dakota men following the US-Dakota War was carried out. This was the largest execution in United States history. “Dakota 38,” an award-winning documentary produced by Smooth Feather Productions, tells the story of Jim Miller, a Vietnam veteran and Native spiritual leader who rode his horse from Lower Brule, South Dakota, to Mankato, Minnesota, to honor those executed there. Descendants of the Dakota 38 learned of Miller’s plan to retrace the 330-mile route and joined him on the journey through incredible physical hardships. Upon their arrival, the riders’ efforts were recognized by Mankato residents, furthering the understanding and reconciliation between Native American and white populations. The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum will be closed December 24-25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. Regular hours will resume on Monday, December 26. Regular hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.