'Moon of the Snowblind' offers a fuller picture of the Spirit Lake Massacre

This episode of Talk of Iowa honors the legacy of Cedar Falls artist Gary Kelly, who passed away on April 12, 2026, by revisiting a 2021 interview about his graphic novel *Moon of the Snowblind*. The work re-examines the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre—a violent event in which Ink Paduta and his Wapakute Dakota band killed at least 39 white settlers—through a dual narrative that humanizes both the victims and the perpetrators. Historian Kevin Mason joins the conversation, providing critical context: the massacre was not an isolated act but the culmination of decades of broken treaties, environmental degradation, forced displacement, and systemic violence against the Dakota people. Mason emphasizes that the Dakota were not 'savages' but survivors navigating a collapsing way of life, with bison decimated by U.S. policy and their lands encroached upon by settlers. The episode also features a tribute to poet James Hurst, whose rural, reflective work captured the dignity of farm life and the search for truth through experience. His digital archive, curated by Jim O'Loughlin, ensures his legacy endures. Together, the segments underscore the importance of complex, empathetic storytelling in confronting difficult histories and fostering deeper understanding of Iowa’s past.