Crow Creek

A long-term relationship of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption with the Dakota Sioux people.

ABOUT CROW CREEK

Our Crow Creek cemetery restoration project is a long-term effort of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption with the Dakota Sioux people who, in 1863, were displaced from the area in which we now live--southern Minnesota. The Crow Creek reservation is located at Fort Thompson, SD, on the banks of the Missouri River.

In 2005, TPC began seeking to bring about reconciliation between the Dakota people and the people of SE MN. We met with the CC tribal council and, at their request, we agreed to work on restoring four historic cemeteries on the reservation as a visible demonstration of God's faithfulness, love and patience. Our work began in 2008.

By showing up year after year, Trinity teams have sought to earn tribal members' respect and trust. Today, Trinity teams are known as the "people who stand beside us" and the "different people". Our work is part of a long and slow process, but as the years pass we see our efforts gradually bearing fruit as we remain faithful and open to God’s leading.

We invite you to join us as this endeavor grows and offers opportunity for Gospel seeds to be planted in an area where history and cultural barriers have left deep-seated wounds of mistrust and hostility toward the Christian faith.

Click this link to read: A Brief History of the Crow Creek Dakota

FAQS

Frequently asked questions about Crow Creek...

General Information about the Reservation

Where is Crow Creek?

Crow Creek is located on the east bank of the Missouri River, about 60 miles southeast of Pierre and inside Buffalo County, South Dakota. It is a little south and east of the center of South Dakota. Fort Thompson is the major town within the reservation, and it is located near the north-south midpoint of the reservation and near its western border. Fort Thompson is about 390 miles from Rochester.

Who lives on the Crow Creek Reservation?

The Crow Creek reservation began as Fort Thompson in 1863 on the banks of the Missouri River in SD, and consisted of Native Americans from several tribes. The majority were Dakota people (a subset of the Sioux Nation) who used to live in Minnesota. They were forced out from Minnesota to Fort Thompson, SD in 1863 after the Dakota-Minnesota War of 1862.

Why is unemployment so high on the Crow Creek Reservation?

Perhaps another way to state this question is to ask “Why are there no jobs on the reservation?”.

Many businesses are reluctant to locate on Indian land for real and sometimes imagined barriers. They may want “assurance of access to federal or state courts for dispute resolution before doing business with a tribe or tribal business. Such assurances often require a limited waiver of tribal sovereignty. The lack of a commercial code, zoning regulations, and tax policies present administrative barriers that can deter potential investors and business partners.”

The Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation studied some of the barriers to Native Americans beginning their own businesses on the reservations, some of which include poverty, lack of education, and job experience.

Even more important in the case of Crow Creek is the location of the land they were granted. While there is great beauty in the sweeping hills and views of the majestic Missouri River, the area is remote from any significant customer base. The reservation sits an hour off the main interstate across South Dakota, and the limited bass fishing and pheasant hunting seasons provide the only tourism attractions, with virtually no year round employment opportunities.

The land granted to the Dakota people here has very few natural resources. There are wide swaths of grazing land, but this high mesa country can require as much as 25 to 30 acres to support one cow. As alternative energy sources are explored, wind energy has been considered. However, there are large capital investments beyond the tribe’s ability to pay, and the location is so far from any major population centers that transmission costs do not make this a viable option for the foreseeable future.

Manufacturing? Customer Service Call Centers?

The weak educational system, lack of infrastructure and the tribe’s inadequate resources to provide incentives have kept any development of this sort away from Crow Creek.

Finally, the overall poverty of the community feeds upon itself. For example, if an enterprising youth would like to start a lawn service business, few people would be able to pay him. If a young mother wants to build a day care business, she will be competing with grandmothers, aunts, and other family members who care for children in their family for no charge.

As a result, the only jobs that are currently available are generally provided by some level of the government: IHS (Indian Health Service) staff jobs and school and casino employment.

Why do the Dakota people stay on the Reservation?

There are many things that tie the people of Crow Creek to the reservation. Extended family is a critically important cultural value among the Dakotas, and leaving the support of parents, grandparents and large numbers of uncles, aunts and cousins can be daunting.

In addition, there are very real barriers when someone does move beyond the boundaries of the reservation. One of the greatest of these barriers is the generally poor quality of education available to students on the reservation. In addition, the difficult legacy of boarding schools Indian children were forced to attend even up to only a few decades ago has created much mistrust in public education as a whole, so poor attendance and high dropout rates mean that those seeking work outside the reservation are rarely able to compete for any well-paying jobs.

As noted below, there are very few employment opportunities on the reservation. This results in someone leaving the reservation having little or no job experience to include on applications for work when moving into a distant community, so moving away for work is often totally unsuccessful.

There are other cultural barriers Native Americans face when leaving the reservation, including racial discrimination and a lack of the extended family support systems they have relied on back in Fort Thompson. Finally, moving can be costly. Finding a job in a new area, lack of affordable housing, security deposits, are all barriers.

How did Trinity get started in this ministry?

This work came to us through the Diversity Foundation (diversityfoundation.org). The Diversity Foundation wanted Mayo Clinic to become involved in reconciliation efforts with tribes and to fund activities to advance reconciliation. Diversity Foundation approached Wes Petersen because of his Mayo research and education work with tribes. Because of circumstances at Mayo at the time, he did not feel there was opportunity for Diversity Foundation to collaborate with Mayo. He was a new member of the newly formed missions committee at Trinity and suggested that Diversity Foundation representatives describe opportunities for Trinity to engage with the Crow Creek tribe. The missions committee encouraged Rob Young and Wes Petersen to meet with Diversity Foundation at the Winona-Dakota Homecoming. A meeting with elders there in 2005, resulted in a request to visit Crow Creek to view the cemeteries they wished to have restored. Rob and Wes traveled to the reservation in July of 2006 to assess the likelihood that Trinity could carry out the restoration of four cemeteries. We felt it was a feasible outreach for Trinity. In February 2007 we revisited the cemeteries and held meetings with elders, representatives of the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, and Council members. In the spring of 2007, we began our visits to the reservation. Our constant mission there has been to show God's unfailing love through the quiet work we were requested to do. Through this work we have built relationships and trust and now are considered members of the community. The relationships we have are starting to open new doors on the reservation.

Why is Trinity doing the maintenance in tribal cemeteries?

Trinity asked what we could do to help the tribe, and this cemetery work was requested by tribal elders and the leadership of the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. The work was ratified in a tribal resolution by the Crow Creek Tribal Council with Trinity.

We do what we do because the elders did not want the young people to lose connection to their heritage, including their Christian heritage. In a setting filled with despair, these Christian cemeteries speak of hope eternal.

At the time, (2005-08) the cemeteries were overrun with weeds, snakes, and full of large holes. Monuments were tipped over, broken, or leaning precipitously. Fences were cut, knocked over, or missing. Damage was the consequence of cattle and vandals, and the weather. These are historic Christian cemeteries that date back to the forced removal of the Dakota people from Minnesota to Fort Thompson, SD in 1863. Christian missionaries at that time accompanied the Dakota people to Fort Thompson.

Perhaps the question is why Trinity should keep doing this work year after year?

That is the same question that many tribal people are asking too. Scripture answers the question best. In more mundane terms, we do this because we want to show that, like Christ, we are constant. We don't walk away from that which we were asked to do. We are faithful to our promises. The people there need to be reconnected to the constancy and faith of the missionaries who sacrificed out of Christ’s love to suffer alongside these dispossessed people. We are the faithful people of Christ who witness by our actions. Through our persistent actions we are building relationships and building trust. As we earn trust we are invited into discussions and to share our ways as we learn of their ways. These are a broken people. They are broken physically, spiritually, emotionally, educationally, culturally. Most have neither the means nor role models for their youth to take on the work that the elders asked us to accomplished.

Isa58:6 * 1John3:17-19 * KJVJames2:14-24 * James2:14 * James2:8 * James1:27 * 1Tim6:17 * KJVEph2:8 * Eph2:8 * KJV Gal. 5:14 * 2 Cor. 9:7-15 * Rom13:9 * Luke12:30 * Luke10:27 * Luke6:38 * Luke3:9 * KJV Mark 12:33 * KJV Mark 12:31 * Mat. 25:34-46 * Mat. 22:39 * Mat.19:19 * KJVMat5:43 * Mat5:43-45 * Prov.28:27 * Prov.22:9 * Prov.21:13 * Prov.19:17 * Prov.14:31 * PS 82:3 * 1Sam2:8 * Lev19:18

Why do you go to Crow Creek?

The short answer is “the Bible tells me so”, e.g. Proverbs 14:31, Isaiah 58:10, and Mark 16:15. That being said, we seek to serve outside of the church walls. We find that returning to the same place year after year offers opportunity to get past “the work” and offer the gospel to people who had begun to trust us as friends. We do not mind doing “the work” of maintaining the cemeteries, but we truly appreciate our time spent with the people of Crow Creek.

How does Trinity partner with the Crow Creek Tribal Council?

The Crow Creek Tribal Council provided the official authority by virtue of a council resolution that permits Trinity to be on sovereign reservation land for the purpose of restoring cemeteries. The Council resolution is the equivalent of a passport and visa. From time to time, the Tribal Council facilitates our work by providing loads of gravel to be deposited at the cemeteries for leveling monuments. Our contacts there also bring us into personal contact with various Council members. Always, they are grateful for our presence and our work.

Are other churches or organizations involved in this ministry?

City Life PCA in Minneapolis sent members to participate in our August 2016 trip. In Oct. 2019 members from Good Shepherd PCA joined us for work on Conkicakse Pres. church building. Diversity Foundation in MN features us on several pages of its Website: diversityfoundation.org

How can I contribute financially to this ministry?

The simplest way is to give your donation to Trinity PC and designate it for Crow Creek.

The Trips

How often do the people of Trinity go out to Crow Creek?

During a typical year, we begin with the April/May trip, followed by monthly trips in June, July, August and October. The final trip is a short visit in December to deliver fruit, nuts and candy to Christ Episcopal church and the people affiliated with Conkicakse Presbyterian. (That church is not active until a new pastor can be found.)

For the three summer trips, those persons transporting the equipment trailer typically leave on a Wed. afternoon to be ready for work to commence Thursday through Sat. Other workers often go out early on Thursday, however we welcome folks to come out for whatever timeframe fits their schedule and interest level. Some workers will leave on Sat. while others stay for worship and lunch on Sunday before returning home.

How do you travel to CC?

We travel by car, and carpool the best we can, depending on the number of people going and on the days they will be going. Numbers vary and not everyone goes from Thursday through Sunday, therefore riding arrangements are unique to each trip.

How long does it take to get to the reservation?

It averages about 6 hours with most of it via interstate 90. It is 390 miles (one way) from Rochester, MN to Fort Thompson, SD.

Where do you stay when on the reservation?

With few exceptions, we stay at the Lode Star Hotel in Fort Thompson. They charge us the tribal rate of $50 per night for up to 4 people per room. When the Lode Star Motel is full we have stayed at the Golden Buffalo Motel in Lower Brule, hotels in Chamberlain; a boarding school 15 miles north of Fort Thompson, and the Habitat for Humanity bunkhouse in Fort Thompson.

What do you do about meals while there?

The Lodestar Casino, run by the tribe, has the only restaurant in Fort Thompson, and we generally try to eat a couple of meals there each trip, providing opportunities to talk with wait staff and others from the area who join us for at least one meal each trip. Eating at the Lode Star is a significant help in meeting our goal of building relationships.

We also have been given generous access to the kitchen at Christ Episcopal Church. We generally eat most breakfasts there and prepare our lunches and snacks for eating on site at the cemeteries most days. We generally have a couple of evening meals at the church as well.

Each trip has a food coordinator who plans menus for the meals at the church, purchases groceries and supplies for these meals, and works with other team members on the preparations. Each team works together to decide how many meals will be scheduled at the Casino and how many will be prepared by our group.

When possible, we also schedule a “Meet and Greet” meal with as many people as possible from Crow Creek, usually held at Christ Church and sometimes including foods that members of the tribe offer to bring along.

How are food costs handled?

Meals and snacks purchased on the trip out and back are handled by individual team members. When we eat at the Casino, the trip coordinator pays the entire bill. At the end of the trip, each member is then charged the amount that they owe for all meals eaten there and paid for by the coordinator. Meals for guests (members of the tribe who eat with us) are paid for out of the Crow Creek budget.

The team brings food along for the meals eaten at the church. The food coordinator keeps a record of supplies purchased and then calculates each person/family’s share in the food costs after the trip. This enables us to keep total food costs as low as possible for each person on the team.

What does a trip cost?

Most trip participants pay their own expenses as on any other mission trip. Assistance with personal costs is available upon request from the Crow Creek Committee, and is based on financial need. Typically, the costs involved in going to Crow Creek are food, lodging, and gas.

Lodging is typically $150 for 3 nights. Gas is often $80-90. Meals around $20-40 depending on how much we make our own meals, and how many crew members we have to divide the costs among.

Totals may range from $250-300 if one is a driver, and $200 is one is carpooling and not splitting motel costs with anyone.

Carpooling, room sharing, and food coordinating are discussed at the mandatory pre-trip meeting (typically at Trinity on the Sunday before the trip).

How many people usually go to Crow Creek and how many people could the ministry ideally use?

For the three summer trips, when the work is most demanding, we have had groups as small as 5 and as large as 20 or more. For the April/May spraying trip and the October monument restoration trip, the groups are typically smaller, anywhere from three to six individuals usually. The December trip to deliver fruit, nuts and candy to Christ Episcopal church is the shortest yearly trip and typically has one to three persons going out.

Ideally, the three summer trips would have eight to ten persons minimum on each trip. More is better, as there are many tasks in the cemeteries which could be done but often are not because of lack of personnel. This is true to greater or lesser degrees for every trip during the year. Some of these tasks can be performed by children and contribute significantly to the appearance of the cemeteries. The other aspect of the trips is the opportunities for interaction with tribal members and exposure to another culture quite different from our own. We very much desire to see more people of TPC have such an opportunity because often it is life-changing!

Types of work during the trips:

The type of work depends on the weather and number of people on each trip. We always try to mow and trim the four cemeteries if weather permits, because that is the task we agreed to do. We also try to maintain the small Bad Nation cemetery where the beloved pastor of the Conkicakse Presbyterian Church and his sister are buried. When mowing is done, monument restoration and grave documentation work will proceed. Other, often unpredictable, projects may crop up and are handled as we are able. We also frequently work to clean up the cemetery grounds—removing trash and tumble weeds that accumulate over time.

What to bring on the trip:

Bug spray, your own snacks and Gatorade/water (for outdoor/cemetery work), lip balm, sunscreen, long pants, work boots/sturdy shoes, tools/supplies for cemetery work (check with work area leader), hats, work gloves, long sleeved shirts, warm clothing for layering, ear protection for equipment operation, clean clothes for church on Sunday (church is casual). Optional: allergy medications and/or masks, your own pillow, your own towels, pain reliever/personal first aid items, Frisbee, card games. Note: The team always has water, sunscreen, and first aid kits to share, along with information about how to prevent and treat health issues that we could encounter, such as heat-related illnesses. A cooler with ice and water bottles is available for the whole team.

Weather:

Often unpredictable, normally quite windy, little or no shade in cemeteries, can be very cold for April and Oct. trips, extreme heat during the summer but even night temps during the summer can drop into the “need a sweatshirt” range. Come prepared for both heat and cold, rain and sun.

Want to join us on a trip?

We'd love to have you come along! If you haven't yet attended (a required) orientation session, watch for those dates to be announced. You must attend a session in order to go on a trip.

Click here for forms you'll need to go on a trip. You will need the Crow Creek password—Email the TPC office for more info or if you have questions: office@trinityrochester.org

2025 Crow Creek Trip Dates

After a season apart, we are ready to return to Crow Creek! As a ministry of TPC, we acknowledge we cannot do this ourselves, so we want to invite and inform you of the opportunities to support from home and for those who come out to Fort Thompson, S.D.

May 15-18
June 19-22
July 17-20
August 14-17 (Powwow trip)
October 16-19
December 19-21 (Christmas trip)

Current Needs:

meal contributions and/or a meal planning coordinator.
a vehicle to tow the trailer with our mowing equipment for service tune-ups and out to Crow Creek.

Contact Daniel DeFoster for more details:

defoster@alumni.iastate.edu or 507-358-0293

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROW CREEK--CAN YOU HELP?

Over the more than a decade that Trinity has been partnering with our friends in Crow Creek, many of our trips have focused on cemetery maintenance—mowing, trimming, and monument restoration. Throughout that time however, we have continued to discuss with residents there some of their community’s critical needs, including more employment opportunities.

In the past two years, one of the men in Fort Thompson has been working with us, leading a staff of youth to begin doing more of the cemetery maintenance locally. This could be a possible business that would provide longer term jobs, training, and encouragement for the many young people who can easily be discouraged by so little opportunity on the reservation.

Where does this fit with Trinity, perhaps with you?

Maybe you haven’t gone on a Crow Creek trip because the current cemetery work isn’t something you are able to do, but if you have experience/interest/skills in any of the following areas, you could become a valuable part of our ministry:

• Small business ownership/leadership/establishment

• Construction project leadership

• Construction work skills

If any of these describe your interests and/or gifts, please contact Crow Creek Committee Chair Daniel DeFoster: defoster@alumni.iastate.edu or 507-358-0293.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A TRIP

Types of work:

Type of work depends on the weather and number of people on each trip. We always try to mow and trim the four cemeteries if weather permits. When mowing is done, monument restoration and grave documentation work will proceed. Other, often unpredictable, projects may crop up and are handled as we are able.

What to bring:

Weather:

Often unpredictable, normally quite windy, little or no shade in cemeteries, can be very cold for April and Oct. trips. Summers may be extremely hot but night temps can drop into the "need a sweatshirt" range. Come prepared for both heat and cold, rain and sun.