Kaposia

Kaposia was a seasonal American Indian settlement, also known as "Little Crow's village," after a long line of tribe Chiefs named Little Crow.

History

The settlement was first encountered by Europeans on the eastern side of the river two miles south of Wakan tipi in St. Paul. Kaposia translates to "light weight" and had over 400 people. Some historians believe that the name infers that the people were traveling "light" and that Koposia was a summer camp. Colonel Seth Eastman painted it below the southern bluffs of Mounds Park. It was the camp the Ojibwe attacked that named Battle Creek in St. Paul. With the signing of the 1831 Treaty of Mendota ceding all lands east of the Mississippi to the U.S. government Little Crow moved Kaposia across the river so his people would be on Indian land. The village was along the river north of today's downtown So. St. Paul. The Sioux of Kaposia were Mdewakanton Dakota. In 1851 the Treaty of Mendota was signed that forced all of Minnesota's Sioux onto the Reservation on either side of the Minnesota River. The people of Koposia moved to the proximity of the Lower Sioux Agency.

Today there is a historic site marker for Kaposia along North Concord street in So.St. Paul.

Visiting

Kaposia Park is situated where the settlement used to exist, and is open to the public.

The annual festival, Kaposia Days, is held the last weekend in June. It commences with a parade through the City of South St. Paul and concludes on Sunday evening with a fireworks display. Other activities include street dances, softball tournament, cornhole tournament, kids' games and activities, bingo, pancake breakfast, musical entertainment, royalty coronation, and many other activities.

Kaposia Days is a community celebration for the community and citizens of South St. Paul, provided by the community itself through donations and local sponsors, and run by an independent Board of Directors and volunteers. For more information, see www.kaposiadays.org.