Fashion Returns to the Hoċokata Ṫi Runway on November 21
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of fashion, art, and culture as the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community hosts the second annual Hoċokata Ṫi Fashion Show on November 21.Held in honor of Native American Heritage Month, this year’s event is themed “Ṫate: The Wind Guides Us,” celebrating the movement, spirit, and creativity of Indigenous people from
Educators Receive Free Exhibit Admission Oct. 16-18
In conjunction with the Minnesota Education Association break, educators are invited to explore the Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake public exhibit with free admission from October 16-18. Educators visiting the exhibit will receive a certificate for one continuing education credit. The immersive exhibit tells the story of the Mdewakanton Dakota people through audio and
From Storage to Spotlight
As part of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s (SMSC) continual effort to increase the understanding of Dakota people, the tribe has loaned objects to the Scott County Historical Society, located in downtown Shakopee, for special exhibits over the past two years. The partnership is helping to tell a more complete story about the enduring presence
The History of Bark Lodges
From the parking lot at Hoċokata Ṫi, visitors may notice a wooden structure standing in the middle of the prairie surrounding the cultural center. Though modest in size against the expansive landscape, it represents another meaningful step to recapture Dakota ways of the past. In May 2024, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community built a bark
Breathing New Life Into a Rare Exhibit Piece
In July 2024, a partnership between the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian resulted in a historic instrument returning to Dakota homelands for the first time in a century. A wooden flute, believed to have been made in the late 1800s, is on display in the Mdewakanton: Dwellers
Traditional SMSC Winter Wacipi
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community invites you to the Traditional SMSC Winter Wacipi, February 7-8, at Hoċokata Ṫi. Don’t miss the dancers, drums, and singers inside the Place of Gathering and make sure to check out the various vendors on-site as well as the competitive and entertaining moccasin games tournament. Please note this event is
Stop by our Gift Shop
Guests are invited to visit the gift shop to discover Native-made art, jewelry, books, music, craft supplies, and more!

Group and Field Trips
Our cultural interpreters will guide you through the exhibit to enrich your understanding of Mdewakanton Dakota culture, history, and people. Perfect for school field trips, senior groups, and professional organizations.