Land return, voting rights and fashion: 2024 Native News coverage through photos
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Throughout 2024, MPR News and the Native News team covered Indigenous stories ranging from government policies to the arts. Integral to the reporting are the visuals captured by photojournalists.
Let’s look at the year in photographs, highlighting some of those stories that were covered month by month.
Mille Lacs Band’s chief executive Benjamin won’t seek reelection, calls job ‘greatest honor of my life’
In January, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s chief executive Melanie Benjamin announced that she would not seek reelection after two decades of service. Throughout her tenure, Benjamin led the band through a series of court battles with neighboring Mille Lacs County. During her final speech as chief executive, Benjamin reflected on the community’s growth over the years.
Events, marches held across Minnesota to remember missing and murdered Indigenous loved ones
To many, Feb. 14 is known as Valentine’s Day. Across Indigenous communities, it is a day of action and remembrance.
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Marches and events were held in Fargo-Moorhead, Mahnomen, Bemidji, Duluth and Minneapolis, where Minnesotans wore red to honor and draw awareness to lost loved ones.
After 161 years, land was officially returned to the Upper Sioux Community
In March, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the return of land to the Upper Sioux Community after 161 years.
It was an emotional day for the Upper Sioux Community as they watched the signing of the ceremonial documents commemorating the transfer of lands back to the tribe.
Indigenous creativity takes the stage at Native Nations Fashion Night
On April 25, the fourth annual Native Nations Fashion Night took over Quincy Hall in Minneapolis. The theme for the evening was “Messengers, Protectors & Great Mysteries.” Hundreds of guests attended the event to view various works from Indigenous fashion designers.
Celebrating American Indian Month with the reopening of local community center
Native News reporter Melissa Olson went live on the radio from the Minneapolis American Indian Center, a cultural hub, when it reopened its doors in May after undergoing renovations. The center first opened in 1975 and has brought a sense of community to not only those living in the metro region, but those living in greater Minnesota.
Prairie Island opens cannabis dispensary, the state’s first near the metro
Prairie Island Indian Community opened Island Peži, a cannabis dispensary, in June. It was marked as being the closest to the metro, located in Welch near Red Wing. At the time, only three dispensaries in northern Minnesota had already been up and running.
Personal histories, items can be claimed by adult adoptees from Minnesota’s DHS files
A small group of community members met at the Minneapolis American Indian Center in July to share information about how adopted adults can claim items left for them by their birth parents.
The conversation about the ability to retrieve personal effects came to the forefront with the law that went into effect July 1 — where birth records held by the state can be obtained by adopted adults.
Native communities take the stage on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Minnesota State Fair
August of 2024 was the first anniversary of the Native News initiative at MPR News.
Guests visited with the Native News team at the MPR booth on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Minnesota State Fair, sharing music, dancing and interviews. Chef Sean Sherman and Linda Black Elk with NATIFS, author and educator James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan joined the team on stage.
Foster care placement case puts Minnesota Native twins at center of ICWA controversy
The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Sept. 30 concerning the foster care placement of two Native children who had been removed from their mother. Community advocates rallied at the State Capitol in St. Paul in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
With assurance and support, Native people with felony records head out to vote
The Minnesota state Legislature passed a law in 2023 that allows those with a felony record an opportunity to register to vote and participate in the election.
Senior reporter Allison Herrera with APM Reports joined two Native voters as they went to the polls in October to cast their ballot for the first time since the legislation was passed.
New agreement between Minnesota and Leech Lake band marks a hopeful new start
A new agreement between Minnesota and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe marked a new start of relations between the state and the band. The two governments completed work on a five-year “umbrella contract,” which replaces dozens of contracts the band had with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and lessens administrative burdens.
In November, the two governments celebrated the contract completion, and DHS presented the Circle of Excellence Award to the Leech Lake Band.
Minneapolis poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich presents official poem to the city
In December, Minneapolis’ inaugural poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich presented her official poem to the city after serving her one-year term.
Erdrich read her poem titled “Poem for Minneapolis/Bde Óta Othúŋwe/Gakaabikaang,” at the Minneapolis American Indian Center with city officials, poets and Indigenous community members in the audience.
Photojournalism has enriched so much of the reporting presented throughout the year from the Native News team and the journalists working on Indigenous stories across MPR News.
More visuals for Native News can be found throughout online coverage.
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