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Minnesota Native News is a weekly radio segment covering ideas and events relevant to Minnesota’s Native American communities

Special Editions | documentaries and special reports

Native Lights | stories of people within Minnesota’s Native communities

MN Native News: Cultural Lessons for Kids at Home

 Lives are changing drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are out of work, more and more people are holding work meetings virtually, and everyone is making major adjustments. Students are also home from school. Which means families are trying to find ways to keep the learning going. And for Native students, there are online resources that provide culturally focused learning through language and art.

Minnesota Native News: A Report from the Recent Native American Journalism Association Conference

This week on Minnesota Native News, reporter Melissa Townsend tells us about the 35th Annual Native American Journalists Association Conference hosted at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community the week of September 15th

MN Native News: Spotlight on War Bonnet’s Award-Nominated Music

Musical groups from around North America gathered in early November at the Seneca Niagara Events Center at Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, NY for the 19th Annual Native American Music Awards ceremony.

Among artists nominated for an award… a relatively new musical group from Northern MN.


MN Native News: MIWRC Receives $500K Grant & Indian Education Conference

This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear from the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, which just received a $500,000 grant from the Bush Foundation. We also check out the Minnesota Indian Education Association Conference in Hinckley.

SMSC’s Rebecca Crooks-Stratton Announces Narrative Change Initiative Understand Native Minnesota

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Understand Native Minnesota is a new multi-million dollar philanthropic campaign to improve the Native American narrative taught in K-12 schools. The narrative change initiative was introduced by it’s campaign leader and SMSC’s Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton during the 35th annual Minnesota Indian Education Association (MIEA) Conference 2019 on Thursday November 14th, 2019.


Minnesota Native News: Cheryl Minnema publishes new Children’s Book

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe member Cheryl Minnema [MIN-eh-muh] published her first childrens book in 2014. And her second children’s book is out now. Reporter Melissa Townsend talked with her about her new work.

Minnesota Native News: New Work from Julie Buffalohead at MIA

St. Paul based artist Julie Buffalohead has a new exhibit opening at the Minneapolis Institute of Art later this month. Buffalohead is a citizen of the Ponca tribe in Oklahoma.


Minnesota Native News: New Grant, New Book and New Exhibit

This week on Minnesota Native News we hear about a big boost to a handful of organizations working with Native communities. We also hear about a new book from Cheryl Minnema [MIN-eh-muh] and a new exhibit featuring Ponca artist Julie Buffalohead.

MN Native News: Good New Homes

This week on Minnesota Native News, we look forward to two very different grand openings. One is a permanent exhibit at the Minnesota History Center called Our Home; the other is brand new youth housing called Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung, “Our Good New Home.”

MN Native News: Reforming Enrollment and Maybe a Name

Red Lake Nation recently changed who can be a citizen. It used to require one-quarter Red Lake blood quantum. As Laurie Stern reports, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe may make changes too.


MN Native News: Women’s Hand Drum Gathering

This week… Women’s Handrumming groups gathered at the Cloquet Foresty Center to share songs and knowledge… to make drums, and celebrate community.

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