fy24 annual report - Flipbook - Page 22
This place – this state,
where we live – is one
thing we hold in common.
When we create learning
opportunities centered on
place with scholars and
community elders, we
have a unique opportunity
to see Minnesota and its
people, some for the first
time, with new insight and
understanding. We offer
private and public Learning
from Place experiences.
Learning from Place – Bdote
Bdote is a Dakota word that generally means “where two waters come together.” The Bdote
where the Haháwakpa (Mississippi River) and the Mnísota Wakpá (Minnesota River) come
together is central to Dakota spirituality and history. Participants obtain a deeper understanding
about Dakota people’s relationship to the place we now call Minnesota and will be encouraged
to put newfound knowledge into action and further learning.
MHC piloted a special immersive experience to gain deeper understanding of Dakota life
along the Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail and a private tour of Mdewakanton: Dwellers of
the Spirit Lake at Hocokata Ti, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s cultural center.
Learning from Place – Cedar-Riverside/West Bank
The Cedar-Riverside/West Bank neighborhood in Minneapolis has long been a landing
place for newly arrived immigrants. Today, Minnesota is home to a large East African
community, including Ethiopian, Oromo, and the largest diaspora of individuals from
Somalia in the world. Participants in this immersive program learn about the current
residents of this neighborhood and how we continue to welcome new neighbors into
our community.
Learning from Place – Hmong St. Paul
St. Paul is home to the largest Hmong population in the United States, with deep roots on
the East Side, which has served as a landing place for newly arrived immigrants. Attendees
visit the Minnesota Hmong–Lao Veterans Commemorative Memorial which honors military
personnel and citizens who served in the “Secret War” in Laos and hear stories about
Hmong involvement in the Southeast Asia War.
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M I N N E S O TA H U M A N I T I E S C E N T E R
