Giiwedinong- Bringing Culture and History to Park Rapids- Akiing

On October 12, we opened Giiwedinong, the Museum of Anishinaabe Culture and Treaty Rights in Park Rapids. We open this museum in a former Carnegie Library and a former Enbridge office.

The opening was a major success, with over 300 people attending, many from the local towns, who were eager to see what we had done. The museum is really a testament of love and commitment to the people and community. With a mostly volunteer staff, and an inaugural set of donations totaling about $120,000 we opened. Now, we are looking to shore up the ongoing programs of the museum. 

The museum project is a collaboration of writers and Anishinaabe artists, dedicated to showcasing the history of the land and its people. The inaugural exhibit focuses on the Anishinaabe people and their connection to Indaakiingimin, the land to which they belong. The exhibit weaves together cultural teachings, prophecies, treaties, and the communities that exist today. The inspiration for much of the work comes from the l855 Treaty Authority and the importance of sharing our history. 

While some elements of the museum’s display will remain, such as the thousand-plus years of Anishinaabe history that provides a backdrop for today’s world, other exhibits will change as new stories are told. The Inkpa Mani Sweet Corn Treaty Painting, commissioned on the right, is just one example of the storytelling work underway at Giiwedinong. 

The museum intends to both provide educational materials for schools regionally as well as the general public, and now is seeking to grow a staff and capacity to carry on the work ahead. We have some volunteer support for curriculum development, and plan to dramatically expand our educational work.

Our gift shop is just opening, and will carry an on line presence for most of the organizations work from wild rice, to artisan gifts, books and educational materials. 

The team hopes that the museum will serve the community, native and non-Native to grow a better understanding of our history and future.

Giiwedinong has a small board, of Travis Zimmerman (Grand Portage) who directs the Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Danette Larson, who directs the Park Rapids Indian Education Programs for the School District and Don Wedll, the Mille Lacs tribal historian. We will expand this board over the winter, as we develop the programs.

Board member of Giiwedinong, Travis Zimmerman, told Minnesota Public Radio, “A museum run by an American Indian organization, having American Indian curators, and really having that Native voice come out, is something that you don’t really see much of, anywhere really, much less in Minnesota.”

Sarah LittleRedfeather (Giiwedinong co-curator, marketing director and artist). Minnesota Public Radio, “Anishinaabekwe descendant of White Earth, photographed many of these protests. She is also a curator and marketing director for the museum.”

“We had tens of thousands of people at Standing Rock. I was there. And I want to honor that. There were a lot of atrocities that happened,” she says. Curating the museum has been healing, she says.

“It was pretty brutal, what we all went through, and I just feel really energized and I'm so happy to share and carry this on,” Sarah LittleRedfeather says. “I'm really excited to have folks come in and see how beautiful we are.”

We had a beautiful Grand Opening with hopes that Giiwedinong will serve the community, native and non-Native to grow a better understanding of our history and future. We are grateful for communities who came out at our Grand Opening. We hope to fund this work through a combination of memberships and foundation support.

Donor Needs: Capacity Building Funds

The News Resources and Photos below of the opening event.

• See the MPR News  ‘In the North’ – Minnesota’s first independent Indigenous museum opens in an ‘ironic’ location.’ Alex V. CipollePark Rapids, Minn.October 12, 2023

• See the Park Rapids Enterprise News “Giiwedinong Museum celebrates Anishinaabeg culture“ By Lorie Skarpness October 16, 2023

• See the Star Tribune News “American Indians once protested outside the old Park Rapids library. Now they have a museum there.” By Randy Furst October 19, 2023 (article correction Frank Smoot was not curator of the exhibits)