Fall News & Events
As summer comes to a close, we are grateful for the many people who have joined us at Giiwedinong this season! From community gatherings and educational programs to exhibitions and cultural events, it has been a busy and meaningful summer.
Dagwaagin (autumn) is just around the corner, bringing new opportunities to gather, learn, and celebrate together. This season, we look forward to our annual fall feast, new exhibits, the launch of new educational resources, and the continuing of the Museum in the Villageproject!
Museum in the village
Giiwedinong is committed to telling Anishinaabe stories and making those stories accessible within the communities to which they belong.
We’ve launched our Museum in the Village project, beginning with the community of Pine Point and its unique history. Through this work, we have been gathering community histories, sharing stories, and bringing museum exhibitions beyond our walls.
Most recently, we brought our exhibition on the White Earth Land Settlement Act to the community’s annual powwow, where we had the opportunity to share this history directly with community members.
Remembering the White Earth Land Settlement Act
The exhibition tells the story of the theft of land on the White Earth Reservation and the generations-long struggle of the White Earth people to regain what was taken.
The White Earth Land Settlement Act of 1986 represented an important chapter in that struggle, and 2026 marks its 40th anniversary.
This history is also part of the story of Giiwedinong.
Our museum building was acquired as part of an effort to reclaim history. Before becoming home to Giiwedinong, the building served as an Enbridge office in downtown Park Rapids.
Today, we have transformed that space into a place where our people can tell our own stories of courage, resilience, resistance, and hope.
Pictured above: Traveling White Earth Land Settlement Act exhibit in preparation for debut.
Pictured: Giiwedinong Museum 2026
CELEBRATING OUR RELATIVES
Procession of the Species
Earlier this summer, Giiwedinong had the privilege of co-hosting a Procession of the Species gathering with the Park Rapids Arts Commission.
The Procession of the Species is an opportunity to honor our relatives who share this land and water with us. Through art, costumes, movement, and community celebration, young people and community members were invited to recognize our connections with the animals and other beings around us.
This type of event is held in communities across the country, and bringing it to Park Rapids was a wonderful example of what can happen when community organizations work together.
We were especially pleased to welcome students and families from Northland Community Schools in Remer, Minnesota, along with community members from Park Rapids and the surrounding area.
Folks are already buzzing about next year's potential procession, and that is exactly what we hope to create at Giiwedinong; spaces where people can come together, build relationships, celebrate, and learn from one another.
Pictured above: Participants of the Procession of the Species Prepare to Parade Through Park Rapids, MN
HISTORY, JUSTICE & RESISTANCE
Minnesota in Winter
Giiwedinong is a museum of history, but we are also a museum of justice. We honor the ongoing struggles of Anishinaabe people and our neighbors for dignity, safety, sovereignty, and justice.
This year, Minnesotans witnessed an extraordinary period of courage and community resistance. During the depth of winter, communities across the state came together to stand with their neighbors and resist efforts to separate families and communities through immigration enforcement.
In response, Giiwedinong created Minnesota in Winter, an exhibition exploring the history of social justice movements in Minnesota and the people who have organized for change.
The exhibition highlights movements and organizations including:
Women Against Military Madness
The McDonald Sisters
Northern Sun Alliance
and other Minnesota movements for social and environmental justice
The exhibition also explores the history of the Whipple Center and the legacy of Reverend Henry Benjamin Whipple, who advocated for Native people.
The location itself carries another, much heavier history. Fort Snelling was also the site where thousands of Dakota people were imprisoned following the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.
By bringing these histories together, Minnesota in Winter asks us to consider the many layers of history held within Minnesota's places, and the people who have continued to stand up for one another.
Pictured: A Piece from the Minnesota in Winter Exhibit
Upcoming Events
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
This fall, we will once again gather with community partners for the fourth annual Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a multicultural celebration honoring life, death, remembrance, and renewal.
The event also celebrates the remarkable journey of the monarch butterfly, whose migrations connect Mexico and Minnesota. Monarchs that spend part of their lives in our northern landscapes eventually make their way south to Mexico, connecting our communities across thousands of miles. We believe these connections are worth celebrating.
More information will be announced soon.
An Interactive History & Treaty Kiosk
Giiwedinong is also excited to be developing interactive history kiosks in collaboration with Hamline University. A kiosk will provide visitors with an accessible way to explore Anishinaabe history, treaty information, maps, and other resources.
Interactive displays like this are already being successfully used by other tribal organizations, and we are excited about the possibilities this project could bring to Giiwedinong and our community.
This is another step toward making our history and treaty rights accessible to everyone who walks through our doors.
Giiwedinong Fall Feast — October 11, 2026
Join us for our annual fall feast featuring another premier Indigenous chef and an evening of food, community, and celebration. The Fall Feast will once again be held at the Armory in Park Rapids, MN. There are a limited number of tickets so get yours today!
Help Us Make these Celebrations Possible
Community events like Día de los Muertos depend on community support. If you would like to help Giiwedinong continue creating free and accessible cultural events, please consider making a donation!
THE MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS
Bringing Exhibits to You
Our exhibitions are no longer limited to the walls of Giiwedinong. We are now developing mobile exhibitions that can travel to schools, community centers, cultural organizations, and other community spaces.
Our mobile exhibits explore subjects including:
Anishinaabe history
Treaty rights
Land and sovereignty
Social justice movements
Minnesota history
Indigenous perspectives and experiences
Invite Giiwedinong to Your Community!
Would you like to bring an exhibit to your community? Schools, community organizations, and other groups interested in hosting a mobile exhibit are encouraged to contact us.
Email: info@giwedinong.org (preferred)
Phone: 218-255-7749
Help Us Bring the Museum to the Village
Our work extends far beyond our museum building. Through Museum in the Village, mobile exhibitions, educational programming, public events, and our upcoming interactive history kiosks, we are working to bring Anishinaabe history, treaty rights, culture, and community stories directly to the people. We need your help to continue growing this work.
Your support can help us:
Bring exhibitions to schools and communities
Develop the Museum in the Village project
Create an interactive treaty and history kiosk
Provide educational programming for students
Host community cultural events
Preserve and share Anishinaabe histories
Every contribution helps us continue building a place where our communities can see their histories, share their stories, and imagine their futures.
Miigwech
Thank you for joining us, supporting our work, attending our events, visiting our museum, and helping us create spaces for learning, remembrance, celebration, and community.
We look forward to sharing more with you this fall.
Miigwech,
Logan Monroe
Executive Director
Winona LaDuke
Founder / Senior Curator
