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 of Dakota people who have lived in the area since time immemorial.
“We’ve always had this artifact collection, but not really ways to share it outside of our exhibit,” said Javi Avalos, the SMSC’s manager collections and archives. “A common theme among tribal members is they have a very big desire to not see these things just sit on a shelf forever. They want people to see them. They want people to understand and learn from them. So any way we can facilitate that is considered a success.”
About a dozen objects from the SMSC Collections are currently on display at Scott County Historical Society as part of its exhibit called Scott County at Play: Toys, Games, and Exploration 1850-2000, which runs through November.
Read more about this partnership in issue two of Wiċoṡkaŋ, the magazine of the SMSC.
