October 13 Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Families of Tradition (ECFE) 

In collaboration with MPS Indian Education and supported by a grant from the Minneapolis Foundation, Native families explore traditional parenting within contemporary life, deepening their connection to culture through shared activities and guest teachings. This spring, families learned beading from Ojibwe artist Jennie Kappenman and traditional stories and medicine from Hope Flanagan, alongside cultural materials from Birchbark Books and Prairie Moon Nursery. Learn more about ECFE's Families of Tradition.

American Indian Scholars (Youth Enrichment)

This seven-week summer camp centers on Dakota and Ojibwe languages, literacy, and cultural connection through field trips, family nights, and visits from community leaders — helping them grow as students and as relatives to one another. Learn more about American Indian Scholars.

Adult Enrichment Native American Programming

Winner of the 2024-25 Minnesota Community Education Association’s Project Award, this project grew from four classes in Winter 2023 to seventeen in Fall 2023, engaging over 780 participants. In partnership with Native artists, storytellers, and organizations, these classes and tours deepen understanding within our community of Dakota lands and Indigenous history.

Upcoming Adult Enrichment offerings include:

• Rarámuri & Yoeme of Mexico: Crafting Herbal Oxymels

• Hocokata Ti Cultural Center Tour

• Medicinal Honey Using Powdered Herbs

• Minneapolis American Indian Center Tour

• Art Meet-Up: Mary Sully Personality Prints

Land Acknowledgement 

The buildings that make up Minneapolis Public Schools community are built within the traditional homelands of the Dakota people. Minnesota comes from the Dakota name for this region, Mni Sota Makoce translating to the land where the waters reflect the skies or cloudy waters. Minneapolis Public Schools recognizes the original peoples of this place and are committed to make ongoing efforts to education the community about the relationship that Dakota people have to this area, both historically and today as they remain here in their home.