Beyond the Markers: Native Americans of Minnehaha County, South Dakota
Look deeper into the histories of the original Native South Dakotans and how their traditions shaped the land. The Eminija Mounds have been seen in different ways, from a "fortified village" to sacred burial grounds that still matter today. Showing both the past and the lasting cultural meaning of the site. Overall, you will think deeper about who gets to define the past and how those perspectives can change.
Eminija Mounds
A Thousand Years of Rest
The Eminija Mounds are referred to as the largest and most numerous mound group in South Dakota. A thousand years of undisturbed burial grounds were threatened by farming, construction and amateur archaeologists. Of the original 38 mounds, only 15 remain to be protected by the current land owners.
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From "Fortified Village" to Sacred Site
Archaeology, Oral Tradition, and Ways of Knowing
What was once labeled as a "fortified village" has now come to represent something much deeper, shaped by both indigenous traditions and evolving historical practices.
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The Burial Mounds at Sherman Park
A NAGPRA Story
Located in Sherman Park are Woodland Period burial mounds dating back to 400 C.E. Although they appear to be little more than a series of small grassy hills, they were of religious importance to Indigenous peoples.
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