A descendant of Chief Sleepy Eye has donated a peace pipe that once belonged to her ancestor, making sure the pipe will always remain in the Minnesota city that adopted the chief's name.
Karyn Douglas Cissell of Palm Desert, Calif. is the seventh-generation grandchild of Chief Sleepy Eye. She says the pipe wanted to be in the town of Sleepy Eye.
Chief Sleepy Eye, of a Sisseton Dakota band, lived from 1780 to 1860. He was known for promoting peace with settlers, and he once met with President James Monroe.
The peace pipe was last seen in 1972, when the town gave it to Cissell's grandfather during its centennial celebration. Eventually it came to Cissell, the last of Sleepy Eye's lineage. She says it belongs near the chief's burial site.
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