Native communities take the stage on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Minnesota State Fair (2024)

The Great Minnesota Get-Together celebrates much of life in the state. For the past few years, the North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems has hosted Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the first Sunday of the fair.

Representations of diverse Indigenous cultures — including food, music and entertainment — filled Dan Patch Park for a day’s worth of events.

This year, the Native News team from MPR News joined in on the day, sharing music, dancing and interviews at the MPR booth. The team also celebrated their first anniversary with MPR.

The program kicked off with the Imnizaska drum group providing the beat for a two-step dance, also known as a friendship dance, led by dancers Zack Red Bear, Caley Coyne and several others from the Twin Cities. The hot weather didn’t stop several people from trying out moves with the dancers and the Native News team.

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Chef Sean Sherman and Linda Black Elk with NATIFS

After the dancing, the organization that sponsors Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the fair was welcomed to the stage.

NATIFS was founded by the Sioux Chef Sean Sherman and is a food-forward nonprofit. Sherman says they want more Indigenous foods to be recognized and to make those foods accessible.

“For far too long, Indigenous foods have been completely invisible in America in general. You could go to Chicago, New York, find food from all over the world, but nothing that represents the land that you’re standing on,” said Sherman.

Sherman was joined by Linda Black Elk, who works with NATIFS and teaches classes on traditional plants — as food, as medicine and as building materials. She pointed towards the trees that were near the MPR booth, including ash, honey locust and hackberry trees.

She shared details and uses of each tree with the audience.

“A hackberry, which, even right now — I’m not telling you to go eat off it, but if you wanted to — it produces these little dark purple fruits that taste better than an apple. You can make jellies and jams out of them. You can make tea,” said Black Elk.

Black Elk says NATIFS also works to make such knowledge accessible and visible, even at the fair.

“Making sure that when you leave the State Fair, you haven’t just eaten all your fried tomatoes and your fried pickles and fried everything. But you’re aware that you’re constantly surrounded by food and medicine,” she said.

James Kaagegaabaw Vukelich

Next, author James Kaagegaabaw Vukelich, known for sharing “Ojibwe word of the day” on social media, visited the stage.

Vukelich introduced his new book, “Wisdom Weavers,” to the audience. The book teaches children the Ojibwe language through an Indigenous perspective of a child with mixed Ojibwe heritage. It highlights key vocabulary and phrases in the Ojibwe language.

When asked to share an Ojibwe word that reminded him of the State Fair, Vukelich said ‘mino-bimaadiziwin,’ meaning, “it is a good day.”

“When you take first year Ojibwe, you’ll learn that no matter what the weather is like, you can always say ‘mino-bimaadiziwin,’ have gratitude and appreciation for the day,” Vukelich said in light of the day’s hot weather.

He also spoke to the meaning of Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the State Fair from his point of view.

“To take a moment and to remind people of the Indigenous heritage of a state that even has a Dakota name, Mni Sota or Minnesota, how important that is to the people who have lived here for thousands upon thousands of years,” said Vukelich.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan

As the final interview of the hour, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spoke about the upcoming presidential election.

She highlighted Minnesota’s civic engagement, saying the state has the highest voter turnout in the country.The state always ranks high in voter turnout during presidential elections.

“We were number one in the census too, and I think regardless of your political affiliation, people here really value civic engagement — that we are counted, that our voices are heard,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan noted how votes from tribal communities could impact the presidential election.

“In 2020, we saw that the Native vote made a difference in Arizona. And I think Arizona is what put the Biden-Harris ticket over the top,” said Flanagan. She says tribal communities are strategically placed in swing states.

“So, when we turn out, we absolutely make the difference,” she added.

Flanagan also spoke on her role as a parent regarding the election and what is at stake for her. And while she highlighted her concerns, she says that she also shares these conversations with her own children.

“Our young people are absolutely able to have those conversations and understand what’s at stake because it is about their future and as parents, we have a responsibility to protect them,” said Flanagan.

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