Flee Island Dakota
Entrenchment
The eastern Dakota (Sioux) of
Minnesota traditionally built "cunkaské" (pronounced
choonkashkay)—wooden palisades, piles of stones and earthen
entrenchments—around their camps and villages for protection
against elements, wild animals, and potential enemies. One group
was even referred to as the "Cunkaskétonwan," Nation of the
Forts.
In the summer of 1862, many
Dakota openly rebelled against the intolerable treatment they had
received from American authorities. As a result, several hundred
Dakota refugees moved north to the relative safety of the Red River
Settlement, claiming the protection of Queen Victoria, whom they
called the "Great White Mother".
In the spring of 1864, following
an attack by Chippewa (Anishinabe) bounty hunters from Minnesota,
the Dakota constructed fortified camps in the Portage la Prairie
district. Each camp was enclosed by a circular trench and
embankment behind which armed defenders could position themselves.
Inside this circle was a ring of pits where the women and children
could take refuge in the event of an attack.
However, until 1873, the Red Lake
Indians from Minnesota, continued to terrify the Sioux who had fled
to Flee Island. According to the folklore of the district from time
to time they would make their way through the surrounding swamp,
kill and scalp their prey (even going so far as to mutilate the
corpses of. their unfortunate victims) before they could be driven
back through the Flee Island marshes - back to their own stamping
ground.
The Flee Island Entrenchment is
nearly circular with a diameter of 73 metres. It is not quite
continuous, however, as the eastern portion has been incorporated
into the adjacent field. Depth of the intact trench varies from 0.3
to 1.0 metres, and there was a semi-continuous bank of earth on the
outside. A number of deep, circular pits are also located on the
inside, close to the trench.
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Sources:
Manitoba Historical Society Website
Government of Manitoba Website
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Small well camoed hide.
Has log book, and pencil, a few trinkets, and the glorious
FTF
Happy hunting