The annual 38+2 Memorial Ride is coming through Madison on Saturday, December 14th.  The ride marks the anniversary of the time in 1862 when 38 Dakota warriors were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota following the U.S.-Dakota Conflict – the largest mass hanging in American history.  The group of riders and their horses bring awareness of the historical tragedy by riding from Lower Brule in South Dakota to Mankato each year.  

This year, members of the organizational committees, DSU’s Committee for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Native American Student Association, are encouraging the community to contribute to a trail goods drive for the riders. This drive would provide them with warm winter clothing items, non-perishable food items such as beef jerky and trail mix, or lip balms. Items may be dropped off at DSU’s Karl Mundt Library, the Madison Public Library, or DSU’s Trojan Center, prior to the ride on Saturday.

The riders will come through Madison sometime between 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. Saturday, depending on the weather conditions. The proposed route for the riders is 2nd Street Northwest, north on Egan Avenue, east on 8th Street Northeast, and then south on Washington Avenue. 

There will also be evening activities at the Trojan Center on campus, beginning with a program at around 7:00 Saturday night.   For the third year in a row, a team from the Sioux Chef is preparing an evening meal, made from indigenous ingredients. The meal will be served to riders first, then to others attending the event, until the food is gone.

DSU Welcomes Dakota 38+2 Riders