Bright Spot: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day in Northern Minnesota

Northern Minnesota communities mark Indigenous Peoples' Day with celebrations on Oct. 14, 2024.

Both Brainerd and Grand Rapids are hosting events to honor Native culture, foster reconciliation, and strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The Crow Wing County Courthouse is serving as the venue for an afternoon of reflection and community building. Michelle Berger from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Steve Newcom, facilitator of the Lakes Area Justice Table are key organizers. They joined the KAXE Morning Show.

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Berger said, "I hope that it breaks down some of the stigma. Maybe with some of the tribal nation rituals."

She described the importance of a smudge, and explained the courthouse was worried about setting off smoke detectors. Instead, they will smudge right inside the entrance of the courthouse at the beginning of the event.

"We've been making moves to instill smudge policies at various school settings, so I just think that I hope that this would be a way for the community to see," Berger said.

In addition, Verse Like Water, the visiting poet program at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, will feature Indigenous poets Layli Long-Soldier and Sherwin Bitsui at the Chalberg Theater at 11 a.m.

The lawn of Old Central School in Grand Rapids is the site of this year's Indigenous Peoples' Day. The event is coordinated by ISD 318’s Anishinaabe Gikinoo'amaadiwin and the MacRostie Art Center. Erika Bobrowski, student advocate at Robert J. Elkington Middle School in Grand Rapids, and Eloise Jackson, cultural advocate at Cohasset Elementary, joined the KAXE Morning Show.

The celebration will feature hoop dancing performances by local students under the guidance of Samsoche Sampson.

Hoop dancing is a traditional Native storytelling form, and has been a visual centerpiece of celebrations. Attendees to the Grand Rapids event are invited to lunch of wild rice sloppy Joes, with rice harvested by community members. The day will also include a reading of a proclamation by the Grand Rapids City Council, reaffirming the city’s commitment to honoring Indigenous peoples.

Both celebrations emphasize cultural understanding, education, and the value of shared community experiences.

Listen to both of our KAXE conversations about Indigenous Peoples' Day above.

Is there a Bright Spot in your community? Let us know!

The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.