The Sweet Corn Treaty by Inkpa Mani

What does restorative justice look like?

The Sioux and Chippewa Peace Treaty of 1870 gives a good example.

On Aug. 17 1870 a delegation of Ojibwa Chiefs met at Fort Abercrombie, D.T. (Present Day SD). Their goal was to make sure peace between the Chippewa and Sioux would be long lasting.

Commissioned by Inkpa Mani. 

Inkpa used pictographic images and ledger paper form the 1860-1905 to tell the story of the Sweet Corn Treaty. Each symbol represents a key historical event that lead to the signing of the Sweet Corn Treaty between the (Sioux) Isanti Dakota and (Chippewa) Ojibwa. This treaty led to lasting peace between both northern tribes.

After Chief Flat Mouth Aysh-ke-bah-ke-ko-zhay ("[bird] having a leaf-green bill” killed Wasuideya (Burning Hail) he took “Makes Her Mark Woman” as a hostage. With the help of her sister Makes Her Mark Woman was able to escape from a camp near Red Lake, MN and fled home to in Sisseton, SD.

The chiefs present where:

Inkpa’s Biography

Inkpa Mani is an Indigenous artist who grew up in the lands now known as Mexico and the United States and he currently lives in Western Minnesota. He earned his BFA at the University of South Dakota in 2019. Inkpa is a multi-disciplinary artist and academic. Inkpa works with paints, stone, paper, and digital media to explore his culture. His process involves community, oral histories, institutional research, and experiences to highlight the concerns and values of his people. 

He integrates art, history, and tradition to share new ideas of contemporary life. Inkpa shares the continuum of Indigenous art that has continued to evolve for thousands of years. He shares his knowledge of Native American history, art and culture and how Indigenous people have adapted to changes in social and cultural landscapes. 

He has worked on large scale sculptures, murals, and community-based arts in the Midwest as well as working with Dakota language education for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Inkpa currently works at Sisseton Wahpeton College and Tiospa Zina Tribal School and is earning his Business Administration degree and his Dakota Teaching Certificate. He is currently working on two public monument projects , a 60,000-pound public stone sculpture in Sisseton, SD, and a monument in Massachusetts.