The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) joined leadership from Minnesota’s 10 other tribal nations as well as state leadership to celebrate the opening of the Tribal Flag Plaza at the State Capitol on Friday, September 5. The occasion also marked the first time ever that all 11 flags of Minnesota’s tribal nations were raised at the State Capitol.

“Tribal flags now stand on Dakota land where our State Capitol sits so that future generations know of the importance of government-to-government relationships,” Chairman Cole W. Miller said. “As I shared in my remarks, make no mistake that the original caretakers of this land—the Dakota people—are still here, and this plaza will be a reminder of our history and our future.”