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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

A ceremony in the Minneapolis American Indian Center's gymnasium.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed November as Native American Heritage Month, an observance first recognized nationally in 1995. This month provides an opportunity to honor the cultures, accomplishments, history and ongoing presence of the Indigenous Peoples who first lived in what is now the United States, Minnesota, and Hennepin County.

Hennepin County Board proclaims Native American Heritage Month (YouTube)

Today, Hennepin County is still home to Tribal Nations and a resilient and vibrant urban Native American community. The county continues its work to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination toward Indigenous Peoples. We also promote practices and policies that honor Indigenous histories and contributions. We remain committed to meaningful government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations that share Minnesota’s geography.

This commitment is also reflected in the county’s Land and Water Acknowledgement, adopted in 2022 and written in partnership with local American Indian community leadership. The acknowledgement recognizes that the county’s work takes place on sacred Dakota land and affirms the ongoing presence and leadership of Indigenous communities.

Native American Heritage Month events

The county’s Outreach & Community Supports (OCS) Department will host a Native American Heritage Month Celebration on November 9 at noon in the Government Center skyway atrium, featuring a cultural performance and a reading of the Board’s proclamation.

The “Why Treaties Matter” exhibit will be on display in the Government Center Gallery through December 7, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and significance of treaty relationships. It was developed in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month and the anniversary of Hennepin County’s Land and Water Acknowledgement, the exhibit advances the county's commitment to understanding Indigenous history, honoring tribal sovereignty, and strengthening relationships with American Indian communities. As the United States marked its 250th anniversary in 2026, this display invites reflection on the Native nations whose sovereignty predates the country's founding and the treaty commitments that remain vital to our shared future.

Additionally, the 20th annual Gathering for Our Children & Returning Adoptees Powwow will take place on Saturday, November 7, at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, celebrating the strength and continuity of Native families and communities.

As we observe Native American Heritage Month, Hennepin County reaffirms its commitment to equity, understanding and continued partnership with the Indigenous Peoples who enrich and shape our community.