| Lake Shetek Massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Dakota War of 1862 | |
 The memorial cairn at Slaughter Slough | |
| Location | Lake Shetek Settlement & Slaughter Slough, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°5′33.28″N 95°37′21.97″W / 44.0925778°N 95.6227694°W |
| Date | August 20, 1862 |
Attack type | Indian massacre |
| Deaths | 15 |
| Perpetrators | Sisseton Dakota |
No. of participants | 40 |
Slaughter Slough is a wetland in southwestern Minnesota, named for being the site of the Lake Shetek Massacre during the Dakota War of 1862. It is located in Murray County east of Lake Shetek. On August 20, 1862, about 25-30 Sisseton warriors and women led by Chief Lean Bear of the Sleepy-Eye band attacked the Euro-American settlers living nearby, killing 15 and taking 3 women and 8 children captive. 21 settlers escaped and made difficult treks across the prairie to safety.[1]
Today the site is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Slaughter Slough Waterfowl Production Area, a component of the Windom Wetland Management District. It is developed with interpretive signage, a short trail, and a memorial.