Native News

The Native News Project is a new initiative from MPR News.

Stay informed with the latest news about local and national Native American communities, highlighting stories and issues important to Native American communities in Minnesota and beyond.

Our coverage includes cultural events, policy updates, community stories and more to provide a platform for Native voices, perspectives and important news.

What is Indigenous Peoples Day? A day of celebration, protest and reclaiming history
From Alcatraz Island to a park in New York City, Native American people will celebrate their centuries-long history of resilience with ceremonies, dances and speeches. The events across the U.S. come two years after President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day.
 ‘Rising from the ashes’: MIGIZI youth center reopens after burning in Floyd unrest
MIGIZI, a Native American youth center in south Minneapolis, is opening for the first time since it burned down during the unrest in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd.
Churches confess and repent for sins against Native and Indigenous people
Many Christian denominations in recent years have repudiated a doctrine that was used to justify the subjugation of Native and Indigenous people. That's now playing out in local congregations.
Survivors of Native American boarding schools honored during ceremony
Orange Shirt Day, as it’s sometimes called, started in Canada with the story of an elder who recounted how an orange shirt given to her by her grandmother was taken from her as a six-year-old child on her first day at a Catholic residential school.
‘Races are hosted on our land’: At the Twin Cities Marathon and beyond, Verna Volker wants to reclaim running as a Native tradition.
After moving from New Mexico to Minneapolis, Verna Volker founded a group called Native Women Running to create opportunities and community for Indigenous athletes. She’s also changing the face of a mostly white sport.
An interview with 3 ‘Reservation Dogs’ actors, writers from Minnesota
Dallas Goldtooth, Migizi Pensoneau and Bobby Wilson, who are actors, writers and producers on the hit show, all hail from Dakota and Ojibwe communities in Minnesota.
City of Minneapolis plans to sell two lots to Red Lake Nation for $1 each
Plans are moving forward for two lots that have been vacant for decades off Lake Street in south Minneapolis, where members of Red Lake Nation are working to build a healing center and garden focused on serving Indigenous people living in the city. 
With origin stories and modern Indigenous cuisine, a new chef comes to Minneapolis
Chef Sean Sherman has gained national recognition for lifting the profile of Indigenous food. Now he’s launching a residency program to lift up other Indigenous chefs. It’s part of his non-profit, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems or NĀTIFS.
‘A step in the right direction’: Lake City returns 3 acres of land back to Prairie Island Indian Community
On Monday the city council of Lake City voted unanimously to adopt a decision to return 3 acres of land containing 11 burial mounds back to the Prairie Island Indian Community. The mounds are located within city limits near a residential district surrounded by houses.