PIPESTONE, M.N. (KELO) – The riders on this year’s Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride have entered Minnesota and landed in Pipestone.
“We just want to share what we have to offer,” Alice Erickson with Little Feather Indian Interpretive Center, said.
Erickson, who grew up in the town, says she’s been helping host the riders who pass through since it began in 2005, along with her brother Chuck Derby “Running Elk” who passed away in 2010.
“There’s so much to this ride, it’s spiritual. I guess when I think about the reason that they’re doing this, you know, our ancestors on the day after Christmas, that gets me,” Erickson said.
The group will end in Mankato, Minnesota at the site of the largest mass execution in U.S. history following The Dakota War of 1862 where 38 Dakota men were hanged.
Christopher Dion says so far the journey has been cold, but smooth.
“People have been real nice. Every place we went, we got greeted with food and sent off with food. It’s been a good help from the communities that we stopped in. Really appreciate their hospitality and a lot of the community members come out and talk. I think it’s good because it is bringing that reconciliation that it was meant to bring,” Dion said.
Dion says throughout the ride he feels a roller coaster of emotions.
“Sometimes you find yourself crying, sometimes you’ll be so happy,” Dion said.
This year’s group has a handful of young people including 18-year-old Isaiah Keeble who says he rides to bring awareness to the native culture.
“Who else is going to get it done but me? That’s what I think of,” Keeble said.
Keeble has been on multiple rides since he was 11 years old and says he feels something different each time.
“Especially when I’m riding with other people we just hear the beating of the hooves. It’s like thunder just rumbling. Sometimes when me and my uncle Chris are singing together, just me and him, we just get goosebumps,” Keeble said.
The ride is 330 miles long and left from Fort Thompson on December 10.
To see how the group prepared for the ride click here.
