Dakota 38 Documentary Analysis

Out of the documentaries shown in class, I have decided to analyze the documentary Dakota 38. The film focuses on Native American riders who go on a long, perilous, journey 330 miles across South Dakota to Minnesota to go to exact spot where their 38 ancestors were hung. The purpose of this journey is to honor and remember the end of the Dakota War which is known to be the largest mass execution in United States history ordered by President Abraham Lincoln. In the beginning of the film it focuses mainly on a vision that a man named Jim Miller had. What makes this man so significant is that he had a dream where he found himself riding along plains in South Dakota. Before he had the chance to awaken from his dream, he came across a riverbank in Minnesota and had seen 38 of his native ancestors all hung in Mankato. Prior to the dream, Jim knew nothing about the largest execution recorded in American history. Jim was a recovering alcoholic and was also an ex Vietnam war solider. In the film he states that when you have a dream, you know where the dream is coming from. After a few descendants heard about Jim’s dream they all rounded together and wanted to take this journey to embrace who they are and to remember their ancestors. A few never had a clue that 38 of their ancestors
It is a Dakota belief that the horse represents a spiritual connection. The front legs of the horse symbolize the west and north, as to the back represents the east and south. The ears and the head of the horse point to the heavens, and their tail anchors is symbolized as “Mother Earth.” Mikey explains that when you combine these six directions together it creates a spiritual center for whoever is on their horse. It’s considered a sacred center. It is said that when they do this some have experienced memories of things that their ancestors went through, they believe that the horse is leading the way due to its healing