Flandreau Colony

Situated in the Steel District, on the west bank of the Big Sioux River, is the Flandreau Colony historical marker. It recounts a harrowing chapter in history for a group of Native American families who faced forced relocation, with a recurring theme of starvation.

In 1862, following the signing of treaties—unfair agreements that did not fulfill the promises made to Native Americans—these families were instructed to relocate to agencies and reservations. In Minnesota, the people were starving, which led to an uprising. This rebellion became known as the Dakota War of 1862, a swift and intense conflict that culminated in the largest mass hanging in American history.

The treatment of Native Americans would only deteriorate further, as many Dakota were imprisoned and sent to the Crow Creek Agency, where they also faced starvation. In 1869, a group of Dakota families left Niobrara, Nebraska, embarking on a challenging journey that included a spring blizzard. They paused at Fort Dakota in Sioux Falls for provisions and then established a camp on Seney Island, near the current location of the historical marker, before ultimately settling near Flandreau, South Dakota.