Indigenous Imagery

“My husband is Native American… his ancestors were pushed out of their homelands. So when we talk about bringing back that flag, we need to ask, what does it represent, and who does it leave out?”

“We are not gone. Maybe some people want us to be gone… but we are here.”

Reading letter from Grant Johnson (Prairie Island Tribal Council President): The old flag depicts a white farmer and a native man riding away; the depiction echoes painful historical realities for Dakota people.

“This continues to divide our community. — Sam St. John, speaking about experiences growing up Native in the city”

“The old flag depicts a white farmer and a native man riding away in the background. The depiction echoes painful historical realities for Dakota people.”

If the council votes to adopt the old flag, we're sending a message that we are not a united part of the state of Minnesota. The imagery on the old flag is a reminder of historical oppression and forced displacement of Indigenous communities.

Resolution 202404 adopted in opposition to proposed flag/seal changes: existing flag and seal depict agriculture, Native American heritage, and co-existence as part of Minnesota history.

Resolution 24-CB-12 (Opposition to Redesign of Minnesota State Flag and Seal): the flag and seal contain historical information on farming background and Native American heritage; substantial public cost does not advance the public interest. Krueger moved, Nagel seconded, motion carried unanimously.