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Canku Ota
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(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
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Seth Eastman Descendants Descend Upon Shakopee Pow-Wow
Charles "Ohiyesa" Eastman Humanitarian Award Delivered to Flandreau Tribe
 
 
by Daniel G. Eastman
 
 
credits: photographs courtesy of Daniel G. Eastman
 

Emmett 'His Many Lightnings' Eastman, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Vice Chairman Glynn Crooks and Daniel Eastman

Prior Lake, MN - Four generations of Eastmans attending the Shakopee Pow-Wow Saturday were able to see and hold a medal given to their ancestor, Dr. Charles Alexander 'Ohiyesa' Eastman as it traveled across the country. Dr. Eastman (class of 1890) was recently honored by Boston University Medical School with a posthumous Humanitarian Award for his efforts on behalf of Native Americans. Known as the most prominent Anglo-Dakota of his time, Eastman was the attending physician at the Wounded Knee Massacre and devoted much of his life to preserving his beloved culture.

Native elder Emmett 'His Many Lightnings' Eastman of North Dakota, producer Syd Beane of Minneapolis, and business advisor Daniel G. Eastman of Massachusetts, were among the 20 Eastman relatives who came together from across the country. They gathered in the Pow-Wow arena with Glynn Crooks, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribal Council Vice Chairman to view the Humanitarian Award. Charles' brothers, David and John, were grandfathers to Emmett Eastman and Syd Beane respectively. Daniel is a descendant of yet another Eastman line.

For Daniel and Emmett, this was the second time they have held the medal. The first time was when they first met the direct descendants of Charles Eastman. This past spring, Daniel located Dr. Eastman's grandson, Robert Prentiss, inviting him to accept the Humanitarian Award on behalf of his family at the BU Medical School Alumni banquet. Emmett addressed 400 people and spoke poignantly about the influence Charles Eastman has had on his life. Attendees lined up to thank him for his simple thoughts of wisdom and spirituality, which he credits largely to Dr. Eastman's example.

Prentiss, like Daniel, is from Massachusetts, and requested that he carry the award first to Minneapolis, where Charles' history began as the grandson of famed artist and Fort Snelling Commander Seth Eastman. And asked that he then deliver it to Flandreau, South Dakota where Charles' family was relocated by the government and eventually settled.

Syd’s brother, William Beane, Tribal Historian & Archivist received the award in Flandreau where it will be displayed at the Moody County Museum. Eastman family members are working together to have Charles and his only son, Charles ‘Ohiyesa’ Eastman II, repatriated from an unmarked grave at 8 Mile in Detroit, Michigan, to the Flandreau Indian Presbeterian Church Cemetery where Dr. Eastman’s father Jacob ‘His Many Lightnings’ Eastman, his brother John and other family members have been laid to rest.

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  Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.  
 
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