Dr. Elden Lawrence

Creative Commons License Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at Copyright and Use Information.

Elden Lawrence was born in Sisseton, South Dakota in 1936 to Melvin and Marie Lawrence. He lives on the Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation near Peever, South Dakota.

Stories

Title
Milford Monument
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Ways of Commemorating
Keywords: Milford
Family roles were very structured and followed very closely
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Dakota History
Topics: Dakota Social Structure
Keywords: History, Roles
You don’t give up.
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Education
Topics: Education
Keywords: School
If I don’t break down some barriers, if I don’t tread some new paths...
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Growing Up
Topics: Growing Up, Dakota in White Systems, Education, Spirituality, Military, Dakota Language
Keywords: History, Prejudice, School, Military, Christianity, Ancestors, Language
Who you are is something nobody can take away from you
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Life Today
Topics: Dakota Life Today, Dakota Identity
Keywords: Warrior, Military, Honor
Common ground
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Life Today
Topics: Inter-cultural Relationships
Keywords: Education, Religion
“You guys can’t be in here; I own all the air in here”
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Shared History
Topics: Dakota Land, Treaties, Immigration, U.S. Government
Keywords: Land, Settlers, Treaties, Encroachment, Dakota and U.S. Gov't
"We’re going to drive you all the way to the Rocky Mountains"
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Shared History
Topics: Treaties, Dakota Social Structure, U.S. Government, Dakota Land
Keywords: Treaties, Dakota and U.S. Gov't, Land
The ideal American doesn’t really exist; he’s a myth
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: Shared History
Topics: U.S. Government, Assimilation, Dawes Act, American Indian Policy
Keywords: Dakota and U.S. Gov't, Assimilation, Dawes Act, American Indian Policy
Two ways of life were clashing
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Causes of War, Factions
Keywords: Dakota Factions, Warrior, Christianity
They got some recompense, I guess
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Aftermath of 1862
Keywords: Dakota Factions, Lincoln, Hangings, Warrior, Christianity
Lorenzo Lawrence (Towanetaton)
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Family in 1862, Lorenzo Lawrence (Towanetaton)
Keywords: Dakota Spirituality, Christianity, Military, Warrior
It would serve as a memorial to the people that were there
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Aftermath of 1862, Fort Snelling, Mankato Hangings
Keywords: Fort Snelling, Hangings
“I’ll die with you. Because I’m not a coward.”
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Causes of War, Little Crow
Keywords: Little Crow (Thaóyate Dúta)
The depth of the water is 3.8 feet
Dr. Elden Lawrence | Oral History 		Theme: 1862
Topics: Aftermath of 1862, Mankato Hangings
Keywords: Hangings
Oral History- Interview | Narrator Elden Lawrence Interviewer Deborah Locke made in New Ulm, MN | Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Read or listen to entire Oral History

Viewpoints: All viewpoints expressed on this website are those of the contributors, and are not representative of the Minnesota Historical Society.