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On November 1, at the Hennepin County Board Meeting, I read and the board adopted the Land and Water Acknowledgement for Hennepin County, historically marking the first Land and Water Acknowledgement read at a Hennepin County board meeting. The Acknowledgement signifies a commitment to partnership along with actionable steps towards education, reconciliation, and stronger support of the American Indian community through county resources and connection.
Please take a moment to connect through the link to the full language of the Land and Water Acknowledgement for Hennepin County. This acknowledgement is only the beginning of our continued commitment to deepening relationships with our American Indian leaders and community members to make Hennepin County a more vibrant, inclusive and interconnected place.
Pictured with me above is Ho-Chunk Nation Council Member Robert Pilot who offered an opening prayer.
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Why Land and Water Acknowledgements are Important
According to Northwestern University, a Land Acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.
It is important to acknowledge that we are on stolen land, and to commit to continue building sustainable relationships between the County and regional American Indian community and leaders.
How We Got Here
 LeMoine LaPointe and Nancy Bordeaux, primary authors of the Hennepin County's Land and Water Acknowledgement, addressing attendees of the county's Tribal Flag Lending Library dedication ceremony.
The process of drafting the Land and Water Acknowledgement started with Hennepin County’s Native American Library Council in 2020. Last summer, my office, along with county staff, assembled a work group to work on the acknowledgement. Later in 2021, the Community Engagement Leadership cohort also created a work group that added recommendations for a County Land and Water Acknowledgement. The Indigenous Employee Resource Group was also consulted in the creation and development of the Land and Water Acknowledgment.
It was fundamental to me that this process be led as much as possible by Indigenous people. I want to stress that this Land and Water Acknowledgement is the result of the hard work of many contributors, including Allison Waukau at our Franklin Library, dedicated county staff, and its authors:
- LeMoine LaPointe, Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota
- Nancy Bordeaux, Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota
- Reid Raymond (Pahin Sina Wicasa), Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and elder Hennepin County staff member
- Elaine Sullivan, Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag/Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and elder Hennepin County staff member
 County staff, electeds, community, and tribal leaders join me for a group photo before the Tribal Flag Lending Library Dedication Ceremony at the Central Library.
What’s Next?
The adoption of the Land and Water Acknowledgement is only the beginning of our increased commitment to repairing and deepening Hennepin County’s relationship with our Native partners and residents. As a first step, we also dedicated a Flag Lending Library.
The Flag Lending Library will be housed at the Franklin library for residents to use at events and ceremonies. As part of the engagement process with the tribes, we anticipate additional tribal flags will be added to the lending library throughout the year. To check out the flags, much as one might check out a library book, residents will work with staff at the Franklin Library to reserve, use, and return the flag for community events.
County staff is also working with community to develop a toolkit for Hennepin County to use internally. The toolkit will offer customizable Land and Water Acknowledgment templates so that staff can adapt them for meetings. It will also provide guidance around when and how to use Land and Water Acknowledgements, best practices, educational lessons on American Indian culture and history, and additional resources.
Dedication of the Flag Lending Library
On November 2, at the Hennepin County Minneapolis Downtown Library, the county and community gathered to dedicate flags from Minnesota’s eleven sovereign tribal nations that will be part of the Flag Lending Library.
 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. poses on stage after the dedication ceremony.
The event was opened by Opie Day of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewas and Desirae Desnomie of the Peepeekisis Cree First Nation with an opening prayer song. Words of wisdom were shared by Judge Terri Yellowhammer, LeMoine LaPointe, and Nancy Bordeaux. We were honored to be joined by Faron Jackson, Sr. Chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Robert Pilot, Council Member from the Ho-Chunk Nation, who both shared a few words.
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This dedication ceremony was a momentous occasion of collaboration and diplomacy, and I look forward to continuing to deepen Hennepin County’s relationships with the tribal nations whose lands we share.
Coverage
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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