BROOKINGS – Brookings author Phyllis Cole-Dai will present “The Stories Behind the Story,” a revealing look at the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War and the historical novel she based upon it, from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Brookings Arts Council, 524 Fourth St.
Along with the presentation, the public is invited to enjoy coffee and dialogue. A book-signing will follow.
Cole-Dai’s historical novel “Beneath the Same Stars” was officially released by One Sky Press on Aug. 20, the 156th anniversary of the war.
Also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Conflict and various other names, the brief war in southwestern Minnesota has been largely forgotten. It eventually led to the forcible expulsion of the Dakota nation from their traditional homeland. The white authorities deported the Dakota people to a reservation (now called Crow Creek) in what was then known as Dakota Territory.
Cole-Dai looks at the 1862 war through the tight lens of Sarah Wakefield, a doctor’s wife who was taken captive with her two babies on the first day of the uprising. Their fate fell into the hands of the warrior Ćaske. The lives of Sarah and Ćaske became tragically intertwined.
“’Beneath the Same Stars’ is the gripping story of two people, caught between worlds, who were willing to do almost anything to defend those they care about, including each other,” Cole-Dai said. “But the drama was bigger than themselves. Tragic forces had been set in motion. Sadly, many of the dynamics at work in 1862 are still in play today. I think we need to look honestly at them and ask what we might do to address them.”
“Beneath the Same Stars” is available in both paperback and ebook formats. Learn more at phylliscoledai.com.
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