Friday morning marked an historic moment at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, with the permanent flag raising of 11 sovereign Indigenous tribal nations.

The flags were raised during a ceremony at the new Tribal Flag Plaza. Organizers and tribal leaders say the plaza and tribal flags do not represent us against them — it represents all of us together. 

The plaza also includes plantings selected by each tribe at the base of each flagpole. The space creates a lasting place of recognition, respect and acknowledgement of the government-to-government relationship between the State of Minnesota and the sovereign nations.

Tribal leaders pointed out that the past of broken treaties and forced removals cannot be erased, but this sharing of space at the Capitol is the start of healing those wounds. 

"This is history," said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also a citizen of White Earth Band of Ojibwe. "Minnesota is the second state to have Tribal Flag Plaza, second to Montana. The permanent presence of these flags here at the Capitol is a powerful reminder that the story of Minnesota cannot be told without its first peoples."

For many in the crowd Friday morning, the moment was a long time coming.

"For generations our ancestors carried the vision that our sovereignty would be seen respected and honored. With these flags now flying permanently on these grounds, that vision is affirmed," said Carlos Hernandez.

Tribal Flag Plaza was first discussed during the 2021 Governor's Tribal Summit. Tribal leaders praised Gov. Tim Walz and Flanagan for listening to their wishes and following through.

"Minnesota is moving in a direction that everyone is welcome," Walz said.

"It empowers them in their identity as well as the ability to move forward past our traumas and work on collaboration and relationship building," said Danielle DeLong.

Tribal leaders say the permanent presence of these flags at the Capitol is a powerful reminder that the story of Minnesota cannot be told without its first people.

Below is a list of the 11 sovereign nations represented at Tribal Flag Plaza, in alphabetical order, courtesy of the Native Governance Center:

• Bois Forte Band of Chippewa: Zagaakwaandagowiniwag — "The men of the dense forest"
• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Nahgahchiwanong — "Where the water stops"
• Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Gichi Onigaming — "The great carrying place"
• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe: Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag — "Leech Lake"
• Lower Sioux Indian Community: Cansa'yapi — "Where they mark the trees red"
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: Misi-zaaga'iganiing — "The lake that spreads all over"
• Prairie Island Indian Community: Tinta Wita — "Prairie Island"
• Red Lake Nation: Miskwaagamiiwi-Zaagaiganing — "Red Lake"
• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community: Mdewakanton — "Dwellers of the Spirit Lake"
• Upper Sioux Community: Pezihutazizi Oyate — "When they dig for yellow medicine."
• White Earth Nation: Gaa-waabaabiganikaag — "The place with abundance of white clay."