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A Free Family Outing By Kunsi Ska

You don't need a guide, but a kid's compass will come in handy. Park at the Fort Snelling parking lot but go around the fort's buildings to the trail on the right to the river bluff. You will find a road going down. When you see the Fort Snelling Park building at the bottom, follow the trees on the left along the parking lot to the end of the lot. There is a path to the left that leads to a bridge over the river to an island. (Or, you can simply pay for a State Park sticker at Fort Snelling State Park if you're lazy.) We'll be talking about that hill again later. First, let's talk about the power of advertising. There are over two dozen mountains in Colorado that are taller than Pikes. How many can you name? We Minnesotans do have an attachment to this young lieutenant who never made it to the top of "his" mountain. (Let's call it Pike's Peek.) The island right off the foot of Fort Snelling, where young Zebulon Pike did indeed set his own feet, is also named for him. On that island on September 23, 1805, at about noon, a council was held under a shade made from the boat sails on the beach, on the west end of "Pike Island." There have been native Dakotas who laugh at the fact the agreement was signed by "only one and a half Indians," Little Crow and the half-breed son of a trader named Pineshaw, chief of the closest village. The council held on the island now named after Pike was attended by Pike, interpreter-traders Frazer and Cameron, and Dakotas Little Crow and son of Pineshaw, both of whom signed the agreement as mentioned. Also present were LeGrand Partison, Tamaha, Shakpe, Redwing, and Vivid Lightning. Little Crow and 150 warriors arrived on September 22 and were camped on the pre-fort hill. The Dakotas entertained Pike and Frazer at their encampment on the hill (where you may have walked and parked your car). At least you will know you climbed a hill that Pike actually did climb by foot! (Can we call it Pike's Hill?) Pike's men, however, were encamped on the northeast end of the island. (Ref. Vol. 1 of "The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike.") In the Leavenworth Sioux treaty of 1821, J.B. Faribault, early fur trader and father of fur trading sons, and his wife Pilage were granted rights to Pike Island. After several years J.B. Faribault moved to Mendota and built the stone Faribault home that still stands today. Pike Island is now part of Fort Snelling State Park.

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