Marc-André Fleury’s Native American Heritage night hockey mask now on display at history center
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The Minnesota History Center in St. Paul now features a specially made goalie mask in the permanent exhibit, “Our Home: Native Minnesota.”
In 2023, Minnesota Wild’s Marc-André Fleury wore the mask designed by Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor during warmups on the Wild’s Native American Heritage Night. He was warned by the NHL not to wear the mask as players are prohibited from wearing customized or specialty gear on themed nights.
Fleury had wanted to honor his wife, who is Indigenous.
“This isn’t about politics; this isn’t about anything controversial or polarizing. It’s about acknowledging Indigenous people,” said Redhorse Taylor. He says that at the time, he didn’t know his art would become history.
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The Minnesota Historical Society purchased the hockey mask at auction last January for $35,100. The money raised from the sale went to the Minnesota Wild Foundation and the American Indian Family Center.
Rita Walaszek Arndt is the program and outreach manager for the Native American Initiatives program. She says the mask brings a fresh feel to the exhibit while intertwining Dakota traditions and heritage.
“One of the big misconceptions when it comes to our Native communities is that we are stuck in the past, and it's a really easy way for us to show about contemporary Indigenous life,” Walaszek Arndt said.
Redhorse Taylor worked at the historical society in 2014 and was later the Native American Artist-in-Residence from 2018 to 2020.
“It’s just great to showcase that relationship, what that looks like, and to really highlight a local Minnesota Indigenous artist,” said Walaszek Arndt.
The mask is located immediately upon walking into the exhibit on the left-hand side — the prominent floral designs set against a white background are hard to miss. Redhorse Taylor says he incorporated the Wild’s official colors while adding an homage to the Dakota name for Minnesota, “Mni Sota Makoce,” on the inner brim as parts of the overall design.
His first time seeing it since last year, Redhorse Taylor walked around the display case several times, admiring the mask from all angles. He says he might not have seen the mask again had it not been purchased by the historical society.
“To know that it will live here forever, and it will be a beacon for what that night, what that all stood for, and that it will always be preserved, is just so important to me.”
The mask will be on display at the center indefinitely.
