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The weekend of October 9 in St. Peter is the annual event recognizing the 1851 treaty between the US government and the Dakota Nation. Re-enactors will help recreate the flavor of the time for thousands of visitors, including nearly 3,000 grade-school students. Some 500 volunteers inhabit tee-pees and canvas tents and demonstrate period skills such as black-powder rifle shooting and tomahawk throwing - all within strict guidelines to maintain the historic setting. The Traverse des Sioux Treaty Encampment started eight years ago to draw attention to the area's historic significance. But this may be the event's last year, in part because of criticism from Native Americans who say the treaty is not something to honor.

THE MARSHY LAND ALONG THE MINNESOTA RIVER north of St. Peter, overgrown with grasses and thick with broad cottonwoods, is one of Minnesota's most historic places. The site was used throughout history as a natural crossing point in the Minnesota River. This geographical asset made it an important outpost for 19th century fur traders and homesteaders. The men whose names now refer to cities and counties - Sibley, Ramsey, and Nicollet - are all closely tied to the Traverse des Sioux.

Now the site is best known as the place where Dakota leaders signed away 24 million acres of their land to the US government. The Traverse des Sioux Treaty of 1851 opened Minnesota and the Great Plains to European settlement. That is a difficult but important subject to commemorate says Ed Weatherill, who for the past eight years has organized the weekend-long event that takes visitors back to that time.

Weatherill: We recognize there are many aspects of the treaty that, you know, one ethnic group versus another, it wouldn't necessarily have reason for pride in participating. But it did happen, and I can't change history. But if we can get an understanding of it and become aware of it, we can all learn from it.

Weatherill: We're not saying it's right or wrong. We're just saying this treaty was here and is one of the most significant events that happened to this area. We should not deny that. We're not endorsing it. But we're not walking away from the fact that The event took place. All of us participating don't feel that you should deny that event.

Allen: I think for the past eight years, Ed has tried to bring multiple people together from diverse ethnic groups and have everybody get along and have everybody feel good about it. I know, given the task at hand, it's a monumental feat to do it.