Minnesota Native News

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. 

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.  

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 Indians Tribe, Metro State University, among others, and was a founding member of the Counter Stories program. 

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 school students.

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. 

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

For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media. 

instagram.com/ampersradio/

instagram.com/mnnativenews/ 

Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/ 

This show is made possible by community support. Due to cuts in federal funding, the community radio you love is at risk. Your support is needed now more than ever. Donate now to power the community programs you love: ampers.org/fund

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) 

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. 

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. 

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 how drastic of an issue this is for the Native community. The demonstration gathers powerful speakers, community healing practices, and offers community-based information that may provide resources to families who have experienced the loss of a cherished loved one.