Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community
Total population | |
---|---|
300[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
United States, (Minnesota) | |
Languages | |
Dakota, American English |
Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community is a Dakota community centered in Mendota, Minnesota. The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community, colloquially known as, MMDTC, is an organization who works to continue Dakota cultural practices and tribal organization.[2] Officially formed in 1997, the MMDTC has sought to be a federally recognized tribe by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as offering community activities such as Pow Wows, Dakota language and culture classes, and partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society.[2]
History
The Dakota people are the original inhabitants of the land that is now known as Minnesota, specifically centered around the modern day Twin Cities, Mille Lacs Lake, and Minnesota River Valley.[3][4] The name "Minnesota" comes from the Dakota phrase "Mni Sota," which was used as the name for the Minnesota River and meant "cloudy water," which was then used by settlers as the name for the entire state. The Minnesota River has a strong cultural significance for the Dakota people as the place where it joins the Mississippi River, in St. Paul, Minnesota, is known as Bdote and holds an island known as Wita Tanka, which is considered the place that Dakota people were created according to their spirituality.[3]
Formation
Federal Recognition
Cultural Practices
References
- ^ Norfleet, Nicole. "Mendota Dakota still in limbo". startribune.com. StarTribune. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ a b "ABOUT". Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- ^ a b "Bdote Memory Map". Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- ^ Westerman, Gwen. (2012). Mni sota makoce : the land of the Dakota. Minnesota Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0-87351-869-7. OCLC 852222081.