MANKATO — Minnesota State University students, staff and faculty got a taste of traditional Lakota healing as they joined in remembering those killed at Red Lake last month.
"We will pray for those children who went on a journey even though they were not sick, and did not ask for this," said Renaldo Dodge, a traditional Lakota healer from the Pine Ridge, S.D., reservation.
Dodge talked of the unrealized dreams of the children who died on the Red Lake reservation. "Maybe they wanted to go to college," he said. "Or to have a skill to get by in this world."
About 150 students, faculty and staff gathered on the campus mall Tuesday afternoon to memorialize those killed.
On March 21, Jeff Weise shot and killed his grandfather and his grandfather's girlfriend before driving to Red Lake High School. Once there, Weise shot five students, a security guard, and a teacher before shooting himself.
Dodge said a prayer in his Dakota language and then provided a "smudging" to those who wanted one. Using a sacred eagle wing and holding a bowl of smoldering sage, Dodge waved the smoke on and blessed each of the 50 or so people who lined up.
The event was part of "Eliminate Hate Week" on campus.
Calvin Moultrie, program coordinator for Greek life, one of the sponsors of the event, said everyone needs to remember the families of the children who were killed.
"It's important to remember that all people mourn over the loss of their children."
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