The riders were coming from Sleepy Eye and entered New Ulm on North Highland Avenue. They traveled south to N. 5th Street and proceeded down the hill pass The New Ulm Diocese and New Ulm Medical Center. At Broadway, the team turned south again traveling through the center of New Ulm and leaving the city on Highway 68. The final stopping point on Christmas Eve was Courtland.

This was only the second time the Dakota Riders have traveled through New Ulm since the rides started nearly 20 years ago. The riders last traveled through New Ulm in 2022, during a brutally cold winter season. This year, the weather was much improved and hundreds of spectators gathered along the streets to watch and show support for the riders as they completed the New Ulm leg of their 330 mile journey.

However, New Ulm support went beyond cheering on the riders along as they passed through the town. For two nights the city served as host.

Around 50 members of the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing riders spent the evenings of Dec. 23 and Dec. 24 at Turner Hall. The horses in the ride were housed at the Brown County Fairground.

The Dakota Riders come down 5th North Street hill, pass the New Ulm Medical Center Tuesday, Dec. 24. The riders were followed by a support team with trailers. The team began the day in Sleepy Eye and reached New Ulm a little before 1 p.m.

After the riders reached Sleepy Eye by horseback on Monday, Dec. 23, the 50 members of the group traveled by vehicle in New Ulm. On Christmas Eve morning, the riders returned to Sleepy Eye to resume the ride through New Ulm and conclude for the evening in Courtland. After stopping in Courtland, the group returned to New Ulm for another night at Turner Hall.

The two night stay in New Ulm was arranged through the work of several local volunteers. Colleen Hokenson served as the volunteer coordinator. She said the arrangements for the stay were all made in the last few weeks. Hokenson had previously offered ride organizer Wilfred Keeble lodging in New Ulm if the ride should start again. Keeble took her up on the offer and in a short time, Hokenson and the rest of the volunteer hosting committee worked to find a place for the riders and their horses. Hokenson said the community was very accommodating.

On Monday, Turner Hall held a special film screening for the public. The film is a documentary about the 2007 Dakota 38+2 Ride. The audience for the screening was packed with standing room only.

“I am amazed to see this many people here, two nights before Christmas,” Hokenson said.

She also thanked the Dakota Riders for agreeing to stay in New Ulm.

The Dakota Reconciliation and Healing Horse Riders travel South Broadway on Tuesday, Dec. 24. The riders would finished the days ride in Courtland.

“You gave us a chance to show you who we are,” Hokenson said.

Following the screening, members of the public were invited to take part in focus group centered on the Dakota Ride and its sense of place. Many locals shared their feelings about how living in the New Ulm area impacted their connection to the Reconciliation ride.

Linda Huhn of New Ulm spoke of growing up on Garden Street near a historical marker about the Battles of New Ulm. She said for years she only ever heard the conflict talked about as a massacre. It was not until 7th Grade she learned there was more to the story. Huhn said the nature of the conflict changed when she learned the Dakota people were starving.

Jun Howe, an indigenous cook who works for Turner Hall said he grew up in Mankato, not far from Reconciliation Park, the site of the Dec. 26, 1962 execution. Howe said every year when the riders reached the park on Dec. 26 he tried to attend. He said it was happy experience that he could make food for the Dakota Riders during their stay in Turner Hall.

Rebecca DeMarais grew up in Southern Minnesota and heard the history of the conflict and mass execution. She was aware that the story changes depending on whose perspective is given.

The Dakota Riders traveled through New Ulm on Christmas Eve. This was only the second time since the rides began that the riders traveled through New Ulm. The team reached Courtland Tuesday evening. Christmas morning the group was scheduled to travel from Courtland to Mankato. The ride will concluded at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 at Reconciliation Park in Mankato.

DeMarais said she wanted to see the ride for years, but had never had the chance to witness it until two years ago. It was the first year the riders travel through New Ulm. The riders traveled on Minnesota Street and passed right in front of her house.

On Christmas Eve morning, as the riders traveled from Sleepy Eye to New Ulm, DeMarais and others helped clean the horse corral. Helping as volunteer support during Christmas did not phase DeMarais.

“This the best Christmas present I’ve ever had,” DeMarais said of the volunteer work. “There is a difference between a present and being present.”

The Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride concludes at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 at Reconciliation Park in Mankato.