Photo by Jaida Grey Eagle
Minnesota is steeped in the history and culture of its Indigenous peoples, whose influence is evident in the names of our towns, lakes, and rivers—as well as many other aspects of our ways of life. Join us as we celebrate the enduring legacy of these communities in Minnesota and encourage a deeper appreciation for the narratives woven into our landscape, during Native American Heritage Month and beyond.
Learn
Dakota Place Names
Minnesota is the homeland of the Dakota people. Many of our state’s naming conventions—including towns and bodies of water—are derived from the Dakota language. Here are just
Photo by Greg Lundgren
a few examples:
- Bde Maka Ska: White Earth Lake, or White Bank Lake
- Bdote (Mendota): A place where waters run together, specifically the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers
- Caske (Chaska): First-born son
- Mni ḣa ḣa (Minnehaha): Waterfall, or curling waters
- Mni Sóta Makọce (Minnesota): Land where water reflects the skies
- Wakoniya (Waconia): Spring, fountain, a place where water wells out of the ground
- Winuna (Winona): First-born daughter
University of Minnesota Launches First-Ever Dakota Language Major
Launched in fall 2023, the University of Minnesota’s Dakota language major aims to boost the number of Dakota speakers and teachers within Dakota communities. Learn more at cla.umn.edu.
Watch
Ojibwe ‘Star Wars’ Hits Minnesota Theaters
In late August, Minnesota theaters debuted a new Ojibwe-language version of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” featuring local speakers voicing characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and stormtroopers. The project, a collaboration between tribal and government groups with Disney/Lucasfilm, aims to celebrate and revitalize the Ojibwe language through popular culture. Visit marcustheatres.com to learn more. –AT
Courtesy of Indigenous Food Lab Market
Eat
Pow Wow Grounds Coffee Shop
Located in the heart of the Phillips neighborhood, Pow Wow Grounds has been “caffeinating and feeding the American Indian community in Minneapolis since 2010.” Visitors can enjoy Indigenous-inspired fare such as three sisters soup, Indian tacos, and frybread pizza. Owner Bob Rice personally harvests the wild rice he uses to create muffins, yogurt parfaits, soup, and breakfast burritos. The entryway is full of signs and posters advertising upcoming Native-led workshops and events, and the parking lot hosts the Four Sisters Farmers Market every Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., June through October. –MP
More to Explore:
- Gatherings Café, Minneapolis American Indian Center (Minneapolis)
- Indigenous Food Lab Market, Midtown Global Market (Minneapolis)
- Makwa Coffee (Roseville)
- Owamni (Minneapolis)
- Roots Cafe (St. Paul)
Courtesy of the Minneapolis American Indian Center
Q&A with Isabella Star LaBlanc
You might recognize her as Leah from the hit 2024 HBO show “True Detective: Night Country”—the stepdaughter of police chief Liz Danvers, played by Jodie Foster. But as a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and a St. Paul local, Isabella Star LaBlanc first found her passion for acting at a children’s theater in the Twin Cities. Here, she shares a
Photo by Getty Images
few ideas on how to recognize Native American Heritage Month, in November and beyond.
Q: Growing up, did anyone local inspire you?
A: Louise Erdrich has been a huge inspiration. I worked at Birchbark Books right out of high school. I remember sitting in the store reading books, meeting authors, and meeting people who love stories, and I thought, this is what I should be doing—I should be immersing myself in Indigenous stories. I’m grateful for Louise and the space she has created.
Q: November is Native American Heritage Month—how can people honor and celebrate?
A: One reason I am proud to be from Minnesota is because of incredible Indigenous leaders we have in our communities. I encourage everyone to support Indigenous leaders in the arts and community organizations. Look for events and initiatives that highlight Indigenous culture and stories, especially in Minnesota.
Q: Any favorite Native-owned places in the Twin Cities?
A: I love Owamni! And the newly remodeled Minneapolis American Indian Center is incredible. I also enjoy Makwa Coffee in Roseville and, of course, Birchbark Books. –AT
Photo by Jaida Grey Eagle
Explore
During Native American Heritage Month, exploring the Franklin Avenue East Cultural District offers a vibrant opportunity to engage with Indigenous art, culture, and community initiatives that honor the rich heritage of Native peoples in Minnesota.
All My Relations Arts (AMRA)
Sharing a building with Pow Wow Grounds, this art gallery (run by the Native American Community Development Initiative) is one of the few Midwest hubs for contemporary Native art. It opened in 2011 in the heart of the American Indian Cultural Corridor along Franklin Avenue, and has featured the work of dozens of contemporary American Indian artists from around the country. A new exhibit titled “Niimiwin,” curated by multimedia artist Josephine Hoffman, is at the gallery through Jan. 18. –MP
Photo by Jaida Grey Eagle
Minneapolis American Indian Center
Located in the American Indian Cultural Corridor on Franklin Avenue, the Minneapolis American Indian Center boasts beautiful murals by Native artists, an Indigenous cafe (Gatherings Café) featuring locally grown foods prepared using ancestral knowledge, and Woodland Crafts Gift Shop. The gift shop, run by proprietor Charlie Stately since 1979, sells beadwork, jewelry, Native music and DVDs, beading supplies, T-shirts, and greeting cards. It’s a great place to find unique, handcrafted gifts with cultural significance, while also supporting Native artists and makers in the Twin Cities. –MP
Northland Visions
Northland Visions, founded in 1995, has transformed from a home-based, mail-order business into a vibrant gallery and retail space showcasing the art and products of Native peoples from the upper Midwest. Located at 1113 E. Franklin Ave., the gallery features handcrafted items, such as birch bark baskets and gourmet foods like wild rice and berry syrups. Visitors can experience the beauty of traditional and modern Native American art, while connecting with the stories behind each piece. –AT
Courtesy of Northland Visions
