On this final day of #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, I’m reflecting on the Native people who cleared a path for us. None of us can do this work alone. I’m honored and humbled to be part of @MPRNews ChangeMakers series along with Indigenous leaders I admire. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/13/changemakers-peggy-flanagan-minnesotas-lieutenant-governor
"That's really been the issue about the missing and murdered Indigenous women and Indigenous relatives: there's been such an enormous invisibility of our people." - Nicole Matthews https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/01/changemakers-nicole-matthews-ending-sexual-violence-is-part-of-my-purpose
“We are going to continue to progress, and we are going to continue to positively impact our communities. In our community, we talk about making decisions that impact seven generations — not just ourselves." - David Glass https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/06/changemakers-david-glass-challenges-appropriation-of-native-imagery-culture-in-sports
"It just means, you know my ancestors fought for me to be alive today and fought for me to know my language and my culture today. And so for me, that means that's my fight for the next piece." - @Neski12 https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/09/changemakers-vanessa-goodthunder-revitalizing-the-dakota-language
"We just look at the tribes that have been here, the people and the communities that have lived here for a long time. And we really try to understand what they were eating, particularly right here, and relearning a lot of those lessons." - @Chef_Sean https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/10/changemakers-sean-sherman-teaching-indigenous-food-traditions-as-cultural-preservation
"I think that there's just such an incredible happening of reclaiming place, reclaiming ceremonies, reclaiming language, reclaiming our relationship to the land. It just feels like such a great time to be Native in Minnesota." - Maggie Lorenz https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/12/changemaker-maggie-lorenz-preserving-cultural-heritage-through-land-conservation
“All of the answers are in our culture, the path forward is in our origin story. We do economic development but we do it in an Indigenous way." - @LeAnnLittlewolf https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/16/changemakers-leann-littlewolf-economic-development-rooted-in-culture
“I think Native people have a tradition of innovation. So anytime we get like a new tool or something from Europeans or other tribes, [we] incorporate it and create new things out of it.” - @ThisIsMarlena https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/18/chanegemakers-marlena-myles-educating-through-art-and-innovation
“I really take heart from those earlier generations, because if not for them we wouldn't be here. We have to honor that, what they went through, and their own survival.” - Brenda Child https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/19/changemakers-brenda-and-benay-child-channeling-ojibwe-pride-from-one-generation-to-the-next
"We're living in a time where our voices are finally being heard. We are becoming the key decision makers within our communities. We are helping to educate the people around us to understand what being Indigenous means." - @kate_beane https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/20/changemakers-kate-beane-bringing-indigenous-stories-into-the-present
“Speaking from the Indigenous perspective, when growing up, we would have a chapter in history class about Natives, and it was very watered down. It was almost like in high school, my teachers kind of gave me this awakening.” - @TUFAWON https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/23/changemakers-tufawon-music-as-an-art-of-resistance
"We've lost so much collectively as a people, as Indigenous people. But the one thing that they couldn't take away was our identity and our songs and our ceremonies — and those things that really give us that life." - @YoAdrienne1983 https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/24/changemakers-adrienne-benjamin-a-master-jingle-dress-maker-artist-and-activist
"This could be us. This is your auntie, this is your uncle. These are people that are our relations. We need to take care of one another.” - Autumn Dillie https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/25/changemakers-autumn-dillie-combatting-homelessness-with-culture-and-care
"[My dad] would tell us, 'It's gonna come again. Be prepared. Be ready. Whatever field that you're in, when that time comes, be ready to say something. Be ready to uplift your people.' I feel like that time is now." - Leya Hale https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/26/changemakers-leya-hale-selfdiscovery-and-reclaiming-the-native-narrative
"I feel really grateful to have this whole sea of resilience to draw from. As an Indigenous person, I feel like we have a lot more of that to draw from." - @houseofhowes https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/27/changemakers-sarah-agaton-howes-preserving-culture-through-craft
"To have our tribes, the 11 federally recognized tribes here in Minnesota, have more power means more voice. More voice means more visibility. More visibility means that our people can get the services that they need." - @TDYell https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/30/changemakers-terri-yellowhammer-bringing-representation-to-the-bench