A few of the Sisitun – Waĥpetun Dakota who settled here at Spirit Lake (Miniwakan Oyanke) were originally members of ‘Farmer Bands’ at their old Upper Agency, what is now Granite Falls, Minnesota. When war broke out in 1862, they fled mostly to Canada. In 1867 word finally reached them of the establishment of a new agency here at Spirit Lake. Upon arrival they discovered that other members of their bands resided at Lake Traverse (Bdehdakinyan), in present-day north-eastern South Dakota, so they applied for permission to settle there. The U.S. Government refused their request because of the great disruption that would have been caused at Lake Traverse, a reservation with an established population. With great remorse they settled down here at Spirit Lake and busied themselves in building homes, farming, cutting wood, freighting supplies, hunting, and trapping.
In December 1874, a man by the name of John Abraham or Oyesnamani (Walking Rattling Track) wrote a letter printed in the Iapi Oaye (Word Carrier), a Dakota language newspaper published at Santee, Nebraska. Abraham’s short letter relates a rather favorable account of the conditions at the Devils Lake Agency. The next year Henry Alberts or Ipageyamani (Walking Against) wrote a similar letter. In the summer of 1877 Abraham visited Rev. Charles Lemon Hall or Howaŝte (Good Voice), at Fort Berthold, and asked for a Protestant missionary to come to Spirit Lake.
According to local tradition, in June 1878, a Sun Dance was being held in the area of Mission Township, section 31, and Woodlake Township section 6 just west of Heart Butte (Miniwakan Cante Paha). The Rev. Louis Mazawakinyanna (Iron Thunder 1836 – ?), on his way north to what is now the Birdtail Reserve in Manitoba visited this Sun Dance camp and preached the word of God. For many it was the first time they heard one of their fellow Dakota express his faith in Jesus Christ. The Sun Dance was being held to ask for rain, as the area was in a drought. The camp was so destitute they had only six crows to offer their guest for food during his stay.
In the early fall of 1879 Rev. John Eastman (Maĥpiyawakankidan = Sacred Cloud Worshipper, 1849 – 1921) brother of the famous doctor and author Charles Eastman (Ohiyes’a = Winner), came and baptized Tunkanpahmihma (Rolling a Holy Stone). With the encouragement received from this visit, the Native Missionary Society appointed Rev. Daniel Renville (Zitkannatawa = His own Bird 1840 -?) to set up a station here. He consented to go only if his congregation at Brownearth would agree to his release. This they did and he arrived at Devils Lake (Spirit Lake) in December 1879 with his family. He preceded to the home of Daniel Paul (DLS # 1168 1844-1911), the son of the famous Little Paul or Mazakutemani (Walking Shooting a Gun). Rev. Renville assembled within a short time 28 people at Mr. Paul’s home for services. With the help of two other local residents – John Abraham, and Tunkanpahmihma, he set up a mission church in the hills west of Woodlake.
Rev. Renville soon realizes his little flock is diminishing one by one. Investigating he learned that a man by the name of Wakanhdimaza (Iron Lighting DLS# 122 1817-1895) reported to Indian Agent that a Protestant missionary was among the people.
The winter of 1879-1880 was a very hard one, the cold and snow killed many horses and cows, inducing the Agent to relieve the suffering with a small ration of food. As the families lined up to receive their rations they were told that anyone who was a member of Mr. Renville’s flock would not receive rations. Rev. Renville was asked to leave the reservation by Indian Agent James McLaughlin (Iyohahinŝma = Snarled Hair about the Mouth), on the grounds that the Ft. Totten Reservation had been assigned to the Catholics. President Grant set up his Peace Policy with the tribes by assigning a single Christian denomination to each reservation. Renville refused Agent McLaughlin’s request because he was asked to come by the local people; also, a severe winter was setting in, making travel impossible. Rev. Renville was invited by Jacob Abraham to use his summer home located in the hills west of Woodlake. Rev. Renville writes in the March 1880 edition of the Word Carrier “A big crowd reads the Bible; these people are brave. They cannot receive their rations because they read the Bible.” Charlie Ironheart an ex-scout lives by Renville, along with four or five others attend church in the Abraham’s log home.
(To be continued)