The original UMR Basin stewards, successfully implementing sustainable management were the native americans. They consisted primarily of the Dakota and Ho-Chunk people. The Dakota now dispersed through forced relocation to reservations in North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Santee in Nebraska. These people have suffered injustice and genocide at the hands of our people and government. In the interest of economic development and national expansion they were dispersed and relocated. Today the remnants of their descendants are located on a handful of reservations scattered across Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Nebraska. They suffer from isolation, discrimination, extreme poverty, and continued broken promises by the Federal government. If they were in any other part of this world our hearts, our compassion, and our generosity would be heaped upon them as we have other people that have suffered the magnitude of these injustices.

The Minnesota-based Diversity Foundation leads a humbling initiative to seek reconciliation between the Dakota people and the white community. This hallmark effort is lead by two selflessly motivated individuals, Ed Lohnes, Diversity's Chairperson and Lyle Rustad the Executive Director. They are successfully working with the City of Winona, the site of one original Dakota settlement on what was known as Wapasha Prairie. Numerous City residents and officials, including the mayor, city manager, council members, and many prominent citizens worked to create the Dakota Homecoming. This emotional and growing event represents the beginning of healing and interaction between the Dakota and Winona people.