SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton) sent a letter co-signed by 43 other DFL state legislators to the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) in support of restoring the Dakota word “Bdote” to identify Historic Fort Snelling. Many Dakota people recognize Fort Snelling’s location as a place of origin for their people.
“All Minnesotans deserve to have their history, language, and culture recognized,” said Rep. Kunesh-Podein, a descendant of the Standing Rock Lakota tribe. “The Historical Society’s efforts to identify sacred tribal land as ‘Bdote’ acknowledges the full history of the place we call Fort Snelling.”
Through November 15, MNHS is holding statewide hearings to seek public input on the name change. After the MNHS board of directors considers the information, they will make a recommendation to the state legislature, which has to approve the final name change.
A copy of the letter can be viewed below.