The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) invites you to the Traditional SMSC Winter Wacipi, April 18-19, at Hoċokata Ṫi. Grand Entries are scheduled for 1pm and 7pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday. In addition to the dancing, drumming, and singing, be sure to check out the various vendors at the event as well as...

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is proud to announce the return of its Dak̇ota Iapi Akiċiyapi (Dakota Language Bowl), now entering its fourth year, on April 24 at Hoċokata Ṫi. The annual event brings together teams from across the region to celebrate and strengthen the Dakota language through friendly competition. Last year’s language bowl...

Whether you’re looking to introduce a young reader to Indigenous perspectives or deepen your own understanding, these six carefully selected books—written by Dakota and other Native authors—offer powerful reflections on culture, identity, history, and resilience. Visit the gift shop at Hoċokata Ṫi to pick up one of these staff picks—or explore the store’s full selection...

When most people picture Indigenous pottery, their minds often go straight to the Southwest—desert landscapes and bold patterns on iconic clay vessels. Frequently overlooked is the fact that the artform of pottery has deep roots right here in the Upper Midwest. Ceramics became widespread in what is now known as Minnesota around 2,500 years ago,...

The Dakota language—like many Indigenous languages—was systematically stripped from Native people during the boarding school era from the 1880s through early 1900s. Native children were sent to these schools to be “civilized,” and were punished for speaking their Native language. For decades, fear and shame surrounded the use of Indigenous languages—feelings that still linger today.