Native News

The Native News Project is a new initiative from MPR News.

Stay informed with the latest news about local and national Native American communities, highlighting stories and issues important to Native American communities in Minnesota and beyond.

Our coverage includes cultural events, policy updates, community stories and more to provide a platform for Native voices, perspectives and important news.

Native American artists on how residency program helps them preserve traditional art forms
During the Native American Artist-in-Residence Program at the Minnesota Historical Society, artists are financially supported and granted access to museums across the state to conduct research. Artists then create works based on their research.
This Fargo chef relearned how to cook after a car crash ruined her sense of smell
Candace Stock had been cooking professionally for decades before a car crash permanently damaged her sense of smell, forcing her to rely on her memories and the help of others to regain her confidence in the kitchen.
After 87 years, a hereditary chief's pipe returns to Grand Portage
The St. Louis County Historical Society will return sacred items to Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The repatriation, guided by the organization's American Indian Advisory Committee, reflects a growing shift in museum practice from ownership toward stewardship.
State fires director of Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office
The director of Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office has been terminated less than a year after being appointed to the position.
Restoration project along Mississippi River expects to break ground this month
A Dakota-led nonprofit breaks ground this month on a major restoration project at St. Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis. The decade-in-the-making effort aims to bring Dakota presence back to a cultural site along the Mississippi River.
A grieving Minneapolis family joins others to honor missing, murdered Indigenous relatives
A year after Evan Denny’s death, his mother joins other families to honor loved ones on a day of remembrance for missing and murdered Indigenous people. The day comes as the state’s MMIR office has seen more families coming forward for case assistance.
Native American birding, cultural teachings along the Mississippi
A group of Native American bird enthusiasts will celebrate American Indian Month by leading a bird walk for their community at a sacred site in St. Paul on Sunday. They hope to inspire other Native American community members to think deeper about the world around them by drawing cultural connections to birds and their role in the environment.
American Indian Month 2026: Opportunities to celebrate across Minnesota
Native American communities and allies observe American Indian Month during May, honoring contributions of Native Americans across the state. Many opportunities to celebrate are scheduled throughout the month.