Indigenous culture celebrated at the Minnesota State Fair

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To Darren Thompson

August 29, 2022

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Last week, the Minnesota State Fair opened to thousands of attendees, kicking off a popular annual 12-day event that celebrates all things Minnesota, including indigenous peoples and culture.

Indigenous cultures have been seen before, but this year Native American representatives took the stage to showcase one of the most popular reasons people attend the fair, literally food. increase.

On Sunday, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), the non-profit arm of award-winning Indigenous-owned restaurant Owamni, will showcase indigenous music and food on the Dan Patch Stage, one of the fair’s interactive stages. We held featured presentations throughout the day. NATIFS and Owamni Indigenous chefs Sean Sherman, Dana Thompson and more talk about Indigenous food and Minnesota Indigenous music artists, including Keith Secora and hip-hop artist Tall Paul. .

At Sunday’s presentation, Owamni’s chef and co-owner Sherman said: Sherman participated in a discussion with NATIFS Outreach Director Ron Kinneen (Tlingit) on food colonization and its impact on indigenous peoples.

Sugar, flour, and dairy products—all foods celebrated at the fair—had a dramatic impact on Native Americans. Sherman said that in some indigenous communities, up to 60% of the population has some form of diabetes.

“Part of Minnesota”

Coined for “The Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the fair began in the 1850s, but highlighting indigenous cultures wasn’t always a priority. It was in 2019, he said, that all 11 tribes in the state were showcased together in an interactive exhibit at the fair’s education wing.

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, opened Sherman and Kinene’s presentation on Sunday, saying, “It’s so exciting to see the growth of Indigenous representation at the Minnesota State Fair. “Indigenous Lifeway and Our History is part of Minnesota and belongs to the State Fair,” she said.

Rob Kelsey has attended the Minnesota State Fair for 76 years. Kelsey said he collected over 1,300 cotton seed sacks. This is the world’s largest collection. He displays nearly 400 of his cloth bags at agricultural building fairs.

Many of the bags are brightly colored and printed with advertising logos, slogans and photos. Paper bags replaced cloth bags in the late 1950s, and today almost all seed corn is sold in paper bags.

“The most expensive ones are those with native paintings,” said Kelsey. When asked why these bags are most appreciated, he said it’s because of their intricate designs.

Kelsey also oversees scarecrow, seed art and corn fair competitions. When she was asked about the different corn varieties, Kelsey replied, “It’s all Indian corn.”

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About the author

author: Darren ThompsonEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. JavaScript must be enabled to view.

Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter based in Twin Cities, Minnesota, who also contributes to the alternative media publication Unicorn Riot. Thompson reports on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and indigenous issues for Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com, and his Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international dialogue. He holds a BA in Criminology and Law from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.