2024 Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse-Ride
Why We Ride
The ride honors the 38 Dakota men executed in Makatoh on December 26, 1862, and the two hanged two years later, the largest mass execution in U.S. history. This annual journey serves as a powerful act of remembrance, healing, and education about one of the darkest chapters in American history. Riders travel 330 miles through harsh winter conditions, inspired by a commitment to reconciliation and cultural preservation. The ride symbolizes resilience and unity, ensuring that the stories of the Dakota people and their sacrifices are never forgotten.
The Route
The Ride begins in Fort Thompson on the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota and proceeds through Wessington Springs, Woonsocket, Howard, Coleman, and Flandreau before entering Minnesota. Riders continue through Pipestone, Slayton, Westbrook, and the Jeffers Petroglyphs before reaching their final destination, Reconciliation Park in Makatoh. The journey includes rest days to recover from the winter conditions, reflecting the physical and emotional endurance of the riders.
Schedule
- 12/10: Fort Thompson, Crow Creek, SD
- 12/11: Wessington Springs, SD
- 12/12: Woonsocket, SD
- 12/13: Howard, SD
- 12/14: Coleman, SD
- 12/15: Flandreau, SD
- 12/16: REST
- 12/17: REST
- 12/18: Pipestone, MN
- 12/19: Slayton, MN
- 12/20: Westbrook, MN
- 12/21: Jeffers Petroglyphs, MN
- 12/22: REST
- 12/23: Sleepy Eye, MN
- 12/24: Courtland, MN
- 12/25: Makatoh, MN