Jeanine Hinsman, operator of New Ulm’s Own and the local host committee for the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride, both received the award Wednesday.

Human Rights Commissioner Kristin Sprenger said the award is given to recipients nominated by people in the community. The recipient could be an individual group that has worked for social justice, worked for the betterment of life for a protected class and made a contribution to the advancement of human rights.

Sprenger said this year the commission received nominations for two strong candidates for the award and decided to give the award to both.

“They both exemplified different ways to support human rights,” Sprenger said. “One is an individual over long term and one is a group with a specific event.”

New Ulm Human Rights Commissioner Kristin Sprenger (left) presents Jeanine Hinsman (right) with the first of two Human Rights award given this year.

Hinsman received the award first. She was nominated for the award by Barb Olson.

Olson nominated Hinsman on behalf of New Ulm’s Own Fair Trade Shop board. She said it was Hinsman’s dream to open a nonprofit fair trade shop. The store sells fair trade products handcrafted by artisans in developing countries and artwork created by local artisans from developing countries. Olson said Hinsman takes care to purchase products are from companies with fair working conditions without discrimination or child labor. Hinsman was also responsible of finding a shop location and volunteers.

Profits from New Ulm’s Own support local charities such as NUMAS Haus, Brown County Family Services Foster Care Program, Ivy House, Westridge Place, and ProKinship.

In addition to her work with the fair trade shop, Hinsman was nominated for partnering with Nora Unitarian Church to sponsor a family from Ukraine. Olson said this required hours of paperwork, fundraising, securing housing, vehicles, employment and helping enroll the family’s son in school.

“The good work that [Hinsman] has done has endless ripple effects,” Olson said. “Human rights is definitely part of her moral compass.”

In accepting the award, Hinsman said “if there is recognition for this achievement it is not mine alone. The dedication of the board members over the last eight years has been amazing. And then there is the volunteers who give between one and four shifts a month to keep the store open. On top of that there is a group of volunteers who can be called as needed.”

Hinsman said the shop has helped her and other volunteers feel connected to individuals selling their products at New Ulm’s Own.

“I really believe our philosophy that we do better when we all do better,” Hinsman said.

Hinsman said the decision to bring a Ukrainian family to the Unitarian Church was a “no-brainer.” She said the parsonage was vacant and could be opened to a family; especially with Ukraine families being bombed out of their homes.

She said bringing this family into the community was gratifying, but also enriches the community.

The second award was given to the host committee for the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride. The host committee was nominated by two individuals; Heather Bregel and Eileen Campbell.

Bregel said the host committee played an instrumental role in welcoming the riders to New Ulm by arranging meals and lodging for the riders and the horses during their ride from South Dakota to Mankato in December.

“Because of their efforts, riders spent two nights in New Ulm for the first time,” Bregel said. “The host committee exemplifies the principals of human rights by addressing historical wrongs and advancing healing in the community of New Ulm and beyond. Their work emphasizes the importance of acknowledging past injustices and a step toward building a more equitable future.”

Campbell said the hosting committee worked hard over a short period of time to ensure the Makatoh Riders would have an experience of extravagant safety and hospitality.

Campbell said past Reconciliation Riders have not stayed in New Ulm overnight due to the historical trauma experienced by their ancestors during the U.S.-Dakota conflict.

“The committee went above and beyond to heal this trauma,” Campbell said. “They reached out to numerous organizations to make sure the riders had what they needed.”

Campbell said by involving so many individuals and organization, the committee was able to promote healing for the riders and the citizens of New Ulm.

Several members of the committee attended the ceremony and accepted the award. Colleen Hokenson and Marlene Ingebritson both spoke on behalf of the committee.

Ingebritson said when the committee first began working to host the Makatoh Riders, she thought it would create great feelings for the riders, but it led to great feelings for everyone involved.

“What I learned is the generosity of New Ulm,” Ingebritson said. There were many who gave of their time and funds to help the Dakota Riders. “That was great to see.”

Hokenson said when starting the host committee, she had no experience with fundraising, but they were able to find people who could help, including horse experts like Bryan Hillesheim.

“There is nothing that we could not get done,” Hokenson said.

Looking back on the experience of welcoming and lodging the Dakota Riders, Hokenson said there was more to learn than just getting the hospitality ready. She learned of the generation of trauma that still existed on both sides from the U.S./Dakota Conflict of 1862. The ride was about healing that trauma and there was still work to be done. Until this year, the riders have never stayed in New Ulm during the 330-mile journey to Mankato. Most year the riders have gone around New Ulm. Hokenson said it went beyond the ride. In her many years living in New Ulm, she rarely saw Dakota visiting the town.

Hokenson said bringing the ride through New Ulm and the riders staying in the community was a big step in getting both sides communicating.

“Bravo, I say to all of you,” Hokenson said “the healing has finally begun and it may it continue to bless us all.”