Diane Wilson speaks on Indigenous peoples’ struggles
Diane Wilson is a Dakota author who came and spoke at the Ostrander Auditorium in the Centennial Student Union in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day 2022. Wilson’s family originated in Minnesota but later moved to South Dakota after the 1862 Dakota War.
‘The Seed Keeper’ follows a Dakota family’s story and struggles. It was in the works for 20 years and finally published on March 9, 2021. It follows four women: Rosalie Iron Wing, her great-aunt Darlene Kills Deer, her best friend Gaby Makepeace, and her ancestor Marie Blackbird, who in 1862 saved her own mother’s seeds.
When Wing’s father passes away from a heart attack when she is just 12 years old, the authorities send her to grow up in the foster system rather than allowing her to live with her extended family.
When the narrative begins, she is 40 years old and sees herself as the government’s ideal Indian farmer. However, after her husband passed away, she felt compelled to return to the cabin where she was born. The reader learns about the intertwined history of tyranny and resistance through her insights.
“It is a story told by four Dakota women about their struggle to protect their seeds and their traditional way of life,” said Wilson. “A story inspired me that I heard on the Dakota Commemorative March, as well as the work I’ve done in food.”
The story Wilson heard was on a 150-mile-long walk to honor the Dakhóta people who were forcibly removed from Minnesota in 1863 in the aftermath of the United States–Dakhóta War. On one of the colder days, one walker told a story about the women on the original march.
“The women had little time to prepare for their removal, but they still needed to feed their families wherever they were,” said Wilson. “These women had sewed seeds into the hems of their skirts and hid more in their pockets, so they would be able to plant in the coming season. That gave me questions, and I needed the answers to my questions.”
Learning about Indigenous Peoples Day is important to know our history. People need to know where they came from.
“We need to know our history. We need to know whose homeland we are on,” said Wilson. “I think it’s important to know all of our neighbors.”
Nancy Fitzsimons was an audience member who brought her copy of ‘The Seed Keeper’ and learned new things during Wilson’s speech.
“I need to keep educating myself – and this was an opportunity to do that – about our history and the history of what was done to the Indigenous People,” said Fitzsimons. “I wrote this one thing she kept saying down about protecting what you love.”
After Wilson talked about her book, audience members had the opportunity to get the book signed. Fitzsimons took advantage of that opportunity.
“Whenever I buy a book and have the opportunity to hear directly from the author, I want to do it,” said Fitzsimons. “One of the most exciting things about being on a college campus is that we get people who write books to come here.”
If students want to purchase her book, they can go to Wilson’s website or find it at a bookstore near them.
Header Photo: Diane Wilson speaks on her Dakota identity and how knowing the importance of Indigenous Peoples Day is something everyone should educate themselves on, regardless of their background. (Lauren Viska/The Reporter)
Write to Lauren Viska at lauren.viska@mnsu.edu