Events are scheduled all over Minnesota in honor of Native American Heritage Month. This week, Minnesota Native News highlights three events planned during November. Photo: Grand Entry at Minnesota Pow Wow. Courtesy of Joel Glaser, AMPERS.Minnesota Native News

Manoomin, also known as wild rice, holds immense cultural significance for Native Americans in Minnesota and the surrounding region. Chandra Colvin takes us to a festival that teaches people about the history and the different ways manoomin is harvested and prepared.Minnesota Native News

Indian boarding schools left a devastating impact that is still felt today. We are just starting to get a true sense of just how damaging they were. Deanna StandingCloud shows us what some in Minnesota are doing to remember and reconcile that incredibly tragic part of our state’s history. Photo credit: Minnesota Historical Society…

This week, we’ll learn about a podcast exploring books and other K-12 teaching resources on the Native American experience, an emerging embroidery artist, and an upcoming theatre production. Image: "Butterfly Girl.” Embroidery piece by artist Loriene Pearson.Minnesota Native News

A national nature refuge in Minnesota celebrates the opening of a new amphitheater that honors the site’s Indigenous historyMinnesota Native News

Native food trucks are becoming more popular to start family-owned and operated businesses. Image: Anne O’Keefe and Frankie Jackson’s Food Truck “Wanna Wotapi.” Courtesy of Travis ZimmermanMinnesota Native News

This week, we hear about how the box-office hit, Star Wars: A New Hope returns to the big screen in one of Minnesota’s Indigenous languages.Minnesota Native News

This week on Minnesota Native News, the celebration of life and remembrance of those lost in the Sandy Lake Tragedy that took place in Northern Minnesota in the 1800s. And, a look at why Native Cannabis dispensaries have been operating while the rest are still waiting to open. Chandra Colvin has more.…

This week, two examples in Minnesota that support the larger “Land Back” movement across Indian Country, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s new Chief Executive, urban Native-led organizations celebrate during a collaborative open house, and a new tribally operated recreational marijuana dispensary now open in Minnesota.…

A newly appointed Dakota-led design team restoring Owámniyomni, also known as St. Anthony Falls has plans to transform the Minneapolis site into a space that centers the land and its Indigenous history. Photo: A design sketch of Owámniyomni envisioning the land after its restoration by a Dakota-led design team. Courtesy of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi.…

This week, we discuss Two-Spirit Identity within Native Communities and the upcoming Two-Spirit Powwow in Minneapolis. The Third Annual Two Spirit Pow Wow will be at South High School in Minneapolis on July 13th, 2024.Minnesota Native News

This week, we’ll hear from the organizers of an Indigenous Writers Series in Duluth. The American Indian Housing Community Housing Organization, or AICHO, recently hosted State Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and the award-winning author Linda LeGarde Grover. Image: Moderator Jill Doerfler, Ph.D., Linda LeGarde Grover, and Gwen Westerman during the Q&…

This week, the newly established state Office of American Indian Health gets to work, a new database of Indian boarding schools helps Indigenous people trace their ancestry, and a Dallas Mavericks player honors his Standing Rock Sioux heritage on the court.Minnesota Native News

This week, the Hinckley-Finlayson School District Board officials voted unanimously to disallow a Native American student drum group to perform at their high school graduation ceremony on May 24th. The ruling garnered statewide attention. Image: Hinckley Finlayson Schools Native American Student Association Drum Group practices on the big drum. Cre…

The Minneapolis American Indian Center recently re-opened after a 32.5 million dollar renovation project. IMAGE: Mary LaGarde (left) cuts a portion of the ribbon for the new Minneapolis American Indian Center while Dawn Paro (Center) and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan look on.Minnesota Native News

This week, a group of organizations expressed support for tribal land transfer bills at the state legislature, a heroic Indigenous Girl Scout won a prestigious award for her lifesaving efforts, information about tribal elections season, and a reminder about upcoming Native recognition during May.Minnesota Native News

This is Minnesota Native News. I’m Marie Rock. This week, Minnesota Lynx draft part Samoan, part Alaska Native Alissa Pili, the Red Lake Nation College opens its new urban site in Minneapolis; and a celebration of Donald Eubanks’ life – an Indigenous-Black community member who, during his life, worked for the State, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe In…

This week, the University of Minnesota is considering a new policy for how it conducts research with indigenous communities, the Minnesota Indian Area Agency on Aging plans to establish a new service, the building of an outdoor smudging space at Shakopee High School, and Bemidji State University establishes an online book club for indigenous high s…

A new bill proposes to transfer state lands encompassing Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. Although this proposal at the legislature is recent, the idea of tribal jurisdiction over the Upper area of Red Lake is a long-standing affair.Minnesota Native News

"Misi-zaaga'iganiing" Shoe Design by Adrienne Benjamin of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Courtesy of Adrienne BenjaminMinnesota Native News

This week, the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resources Center (MIWRC) welcomed Ruth Anna Buffalo, the organization's new CEO. (Image: Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center Logo, Credit: MIWRC)Minnesota Native News

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s $5 million dollar campaign to indigenize K12 curriculum has ended with some major accomplishments. Three Native educators explain their contributions.Minnesota Native News

This week’s headlines include The Return of the Cloquet Forestry Center Lands, a newly available Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relative’s license plate, and the showing of Bear Grease, an Indigenous spin on the classic musical, Grease.Minnesota Native News

For nearly a decade, the Minneapolis Native community has gathered in the East Phillips neighborhood to keep the missing or murdered Indigenous relatives in the collective consciousness. All too often, Native people are simply not given the same attention as their white counterparts. This Day of Action is a wake-up call to for the public to learn h…

This week's Minnesota Native News Headlines include an update from Camp Nenookasi and the transfer of the Upper Sioux Agency Park, and updates in tribal leadership across the state.Minnesota Native News

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, was recently amended, and the new rules became effective this year. Photo: NAGPRA LogoMinnesota Native News

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community are reintroducing themselves to the Buffalo nation, welcoming them back to their Dakota homelands here in Minnesota. Reintroduction of buffalo enhances the prairies on tribal lands in Minnesota by promoting biodiversity. Photo Credit SMSC.Minnesota Native News

All My Relations Art Gallery in Minneapolis was the site of a brand-new Indigenous winter arts market. (Image Description: My Relations Art Gallery entrance with a sign inviting shoppers to the Winter Artisan Fair. Photo by Chandra Colvin)Minnesota Native News

This week on Minnesota Native News, we revisit a story from May 2021 about Ojibwe Language revitalization in Minnesota. Image description: Memegwesi harvesting wild rice (Courtesy of Memegwesi Sutherland)Minnesota Native News

On this week’s Headlines: a controversial Indigenous encampment for unhoused relatives was cleared in Minneapolis, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community partners with the University of Minnesota on deer research, and Indigenous people nationwide celebrate a historic film victory.Minnesota Native News

The Minneapolis American Indian Center renovation project enters its final stages. For the past year, the Minneapolis American Indian Center has been undergoing major renovations- Travis Zimmerman has the story. IMAGE: Architectural renderings of the completed project, courtesy of the Minneapolis American Indian Center.…

The City of Red Wing recently closed a dog park that stood on top of Dakota burial mounds. The move was made possible by the Prairie Island Indian Community and the City’s memorandum of understanding — an unusual arrangement that lets them work together on big local decisions. PHOTO: Representatives of the City of Red Wing and the Prairie Island In…

This week, a Bemidji resident receives an unsung hero award, several Minnesota Indigenous leaders were chosen to participate in the 2023 Native Nation Rebuilders Cohort, and Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan becomes the first Native woman to lead a national party committee at the Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., and the National Hocke…

Announcer: This is Minnesota Native News. This week, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is currently holding an exhibition focusing on indigenous photography from the late 1890’s to the present day. Reporter Chandra Colvin has the story. Chandra Colvin: In October, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, also known as the MIA, opened an exhibition focused …

Located inside the Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, the Eagle and Condor Native Wellness Center held its Grand Opening. Offering traditional Indigenous healing modalities and a variety hand crafted self-care products, the Eagle and Condor Native Wellness Center supports local native artists and aims to bring Indigenous community members toget…

This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Emma Needham. Last month, the State of Minnesota made a public call for submissions for new state flag and state seal designs. Travis Zimmerman has the story. Travis Zimmerman: The public submission period for a new state flag and seal ended on October 30th with over 2,600 designs.13 voting members of the Minnesot…

Estelle Timar-Wilcox: Native and non-Native audiences have been raving about “For the People.” Colin Cash is a big theater fan and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. When he saw it, he forgot he was even watching a play. He even offered to pay for people’s tickets so they could go, too. Colin Cash: In my eyes, for me, it wasn’t just a play,…

Today, we're joined by Sasheen Goslin who turned her passion for her community into a career of keeping people safe. During the pandemic, Sasheen changed the tone in Duluth around COVID-19. When people didn’t believe in the virus, others were dying – mostly the underserved and those without access to healthcare. The American Indian Community Housin…

This week in Minnesota Native News, the Leech Lake Reservation held a survey for the unhoused to gain a perspective on homelessness, its causes, and possible solutions.Minnesota Native News

This week, a new report identifies systemic issues in investigating Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous people’s cases, an Ojibwe Language revival game hits store shelves in the Twin Cities, and a new survey at Leech Lake Nation hopes to identify solutions for homeless tribal members.Minnesota Native News

This week, Emma Needham shares about upcoming events and an annual survey for native people across the US. MARIE: I’m Marie Rock and this is Minnesota Native News. This week, Emma Needham shares about upcoming events and an annual survey for native people across the US. Indian Country’s largest survey is back for its third year. The Indigenous Futu…

Welcome back to Community Health Conversations, a special program from Minnesota Native News! Hosts Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Dr. Antony Stately Ph.D. (Ojibwe/Oneida) lead insightful discussions about the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare in Indian Country. They discuss the valuable lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic a…

Sherburne County partnered with St. Cloud State University to offer a chance for Indigenous students to connect with both the land and their heritage. Reporter Chandra Colvin has the story. This is Minnesota Native News. I’m Marie Rock. This week, Sherburne County partnered with St. Cloud State University to offer a chance for Indigenous students t…

This week, Migizi Communications celebrated the grand opening of its new building. Minnesota Native News had the opportunity to visit the new location. Deanna Standing Cloud has the story of what goes on there and what it took to get Migizi back on Lake Street.Minnesota Native News

This week, we get COVID-19 updates with a clip from the latest Community Health Conversation with Leah Lemm and Dr. Antony Stately, which also features a conversation with artist Reuben Kitto Stately. These Community Health Conversations can be found on our website at www.minnesotanativenews.org. MDH is offering free at-home rapid COVID tests. The …

Welcome back to Community Health Conversations, a special program from Minnesota Native News! Hosts Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Dr. Antony Stately Ph.D. (Ojibwe/Oneida) lead insightful discussions about the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare in Indian Country. They discuss the valuable lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic a…

This week, a new novel called Rez Ball uses basketball to tell the story of an Ojibwe teen on the Red Lake Reservation. Reporter Emma Needham interviewed author Byron Graves about this coming-of-age book. Image: Author Byron Graves from Red Lake Nation. Photographer: Mike Finney EN: The Red Lake Warriors Basketball is well known, but not because th…

This week on Minnesota Native News, we revisit a trip Native Lights hosts and MN Native News reporters Cole Premo and Leah Lemm took to the Four Sisters Farmers Market in Minneapolis. Each Thursday until the end of October, the Four Sisters Farmers Market showcases local Indigenous foods, arts, and literature.…

Marcie R. Rendon released her first book of poetry, “Anishinaabe Songs for a New Millenium.” The book launched at Birchbark Bizhiw in Minneapolis last Tuesday. Rendon was joined by two Anishinaabe musicians for a unique reading that combined music, poetry, and culture. Image Description: Marcie R. Rendon is an Indigenous author, poet, and playwrigh…

This week unhoused relatives have returned to the “Wall of Forgotten Natives” in Minneapolis, wildfire smoke continues to suffocate Northern Minnesota, and there are some great community events to check out. MN Native News reporter Emma Needham has more.Minnesota Native News