Partners in Preservation
In 2023, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and National Park Service created an agreement that enabled Hoċokata Ṫi to temporarily care for sacred pipes from Pipestone National Monument (NPS).
This area located in southwestern Minnesota, which is operated by the NPS, is an important cultural and spiritual site for Native people. It is known for its fine-quality pipestone, a durable yet relatively soft stone, which has been quarried by Native people for thousands of years to make pipes and other carvings.
In addition to the quarry, the NPS also operates a visitor center and maintains more than 100,000 objects in its collection. When the park began planning to renovate its visitor center, it needed a location to temporarily store the pipes and other objects. An advisory committee consisting of members from the affiliated tribes met with Pipestone National Monument staff and two goals became immediately clear: the pipes should be cared for according to Dakota values and they should remain on Dakota homelands, keeping them close to where they were carved.
Although this partnership between the SMSC and NPS may appear straightforward, some see it as a significant shift in how federal agencies and tribal nations collaborate.
Read more about this partnership in issue 3 of Wiċoṡkaŋ, the magazine of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
