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Why did starvation develop on Dakota reservations before the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862?
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Oceti Sakowin
A member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe performing during the Grand Entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Rodeo and Powwow, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, September 4, 2016.
Starvation among the Dakota people on reservations prior to the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 resulted from a combination of systemic government failure, environmental depletion, and economic hardship.
Key factors contributing to this crisis included:
- Treaty Violations: The U.S. government failed to deliver the money and food supplies promised to the Dakota in exchange for their land. These payments were significantly delayed, largely because the government was preoccupied with the American Civil War.123
- Resource Depletion: By the mid-19th century, the game animals that the Dakota traditionally relied upon for sustenance had been severely depleted in their territory.23
- Agricultural Disruption: The Dakota were pressured to abandon their traditional way of life for Euro-American farming practices. However, this transition was difficult, and by 1860, only about one-quarter of the population had adopted these practices. Those who did not were often denied the treaty-mandated support provided to those who assimilated.23
- Economic Exclusion: Following a poor harvest in 1861 and a harsh winter, many Dakota were starving. Local traders, who maintained well-stocked stores, refused to provide food to the Dakota on credit.2