Publication and educator resources by the National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian.

Miigwech to all of the wonderful communities who joined us for our 3rd Annual Días de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Block Party! We sincerely hope that everyone had a truly great time celebrating and honoring their loved ones who have sadly passed on.

Giiwedinong Treaty Rights & Culture Museum in Park Rapids, MN celebrated the inaugural National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 16, with shared food, a tour of the museum and discussion of ways the community can build together across racial boundaries.

“Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day, and so people generally get this sense of the struggles of racial justice. Today is a day to kind of reflect on that,” said co-curator Winona LaDuke. “The (W.K.) Kellogg Foundation sponsors it nationally, and part of our work is funded by Kellogg. So I said, let’s do that.”

LaDuke showed a small group of guests the “One Dish One Spoon” wampum belt – a treaty belt given to the Anishinaabe people by members of the Iroquois Confederacy in 2021.

Día de los Muertos celebration at Giiwedinong began on November 1, 2022 in Park Rapids, MN teamed with local community, volunteers, donations and Vallartas’ Mexican Grill. The Giiwedinong team looks forward to next year’s, Día de los Muertos, (Day of the Dead) celebration.

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.

Giiwedinong Museum begins outside Design with artist Brian Dow featuring Isaac Murdoch’s artwork.