Honoring Voices.

Celebrating Traditions.
Building the Future.

This space shares the living stories of Minnesota’s Indigenous peoples—their traditions, challenges, and triumphs. Through personal narratives and collective memory, we aim to strengthen understanding and inspire future generations.

Indigenous Leader Spotlight

Celebrating visionary leaders who are shaping the future while honoring their heritage.

Portrait of Dr. Evie Campbell

Dr. Evie Campbell

Community leader · Minnesota Chippewa

Healing practices that bridge clinical care and tradition.

HealthInnovation
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Portrait of Sandra St. Clair

Sandra St. Clair

Director · White Earth Nation

Workforce development rooted in culture.

WorkCulture
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Portrait of Eugene Standing Cloud

Eugene Standing Cloud

Oshkiimaajitahdah

Youth education that strengthens identity and future.

YouthEducation
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Portrait of Martin Jennings

Martin Jennings

MICDC

Sustainable Indigenous entrepreneurship.

EconomyCommunity
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Indigenous Business Spotlight

Small business journeys and entrepreneurial successes that strengthen communities and preserve culture

Featured Resource

Ten Indigenous Entrepreneurial Leaders

Powwow Pitch

Recognized for outstanding achievements and impact in building sustainable businesses that serve their communities while creating economic opportunities.

Community Impact Sustainable Business Economic Development Innovation
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Featured Resource

Indigenous SME Network

Indigenous SME Canada

A comprehensive network supporting Indigenous small and medium enterprises across various industries, providing resources, mentorship, and market connections.

Network Building Resource Access Mentorship Market Connections
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Upload a short video or photo and tell us in 3–5 lines. With your permission, we’ll publish it in Community Stories.

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Student writing Indigenous language on a chalkboard

Education & Lifelong Learning

Education is a bridge between honoring tradition and shaping opportunity. Stories highlight Indigenous students, educators, and programs reclaiming history and reimagining learning.

Ojibwe Dakota Mentorship
  • Interviews with students in tribal colleges and universities
  • Projects on Ojibwe and Dakota language learning
  • Features on mentorship and intergenerational teaching
Explore Learning
Preparation of traditional medicine with plants

Healing & Wellness

Healing blends traditional medicine, spirituality, and modern health practices. Community voices share journeys of recovery, resilience, and collective care.

Healers Mental Health Nature
  • Oral histories of traditional healers
  • Mental health and wellness initiatives led by tribes
  • Stories of intergenerational healing through ceremony, art, and nature
Explore Wellness
Leader Spotlight

Rising Leaders: Interview with Mariah Strong, Youth Mentor

March 15, 2025 · MIWI Editorial Team
Youth mentor with students

Mariah Strong mentors Indigenous teens through weekly circles that blend language, culture, and career exploration. Her approach pairs traditional teachings with practical skills—resume labs, mock interviews, and community service projects.

“Mentorship is ceremony in motion—each check-in strengthens identity, purpose, and belonging.”

Partnering with local schools and a tribal college, Mariah co-designs pathways into healthcare, environmental stewardship, and creative tech—meeting students where they are and walking forward together.

Business Spotlight

From Idea to Enterprise: How Red River Crafts Grew in 2025

March 10, 2025 · Sarah Thunder
Artisan crafting beadwork in a studio

Red River Crafts began as a kitchen-table idea, focused on beadwork and quillwork using sustainably sourced materials. In 2025, the team formalized operations, built a brand story centered on cultural continuity, and expanded into fair-trade channels.

Their growth blueprint: cooperative ownership, transparent pricing, and youth apprenticeships that keep techniques—and livelihoods—rooted in community.

Community Story

Community Healing through Storytelling Circles

March 8, 2025 · Elder Robert Kingbird
People gathered in a storytelling circle

Storytelling circles create a gentle, structured space for listening, reflection, and release. Guided by protocols—songs, openings in language, and closing thanks—they reconnect families and co-workers across generations.

“When we pass the talking piece, we pass responsibility to care for one another.”

Circles are now used in schools, clinics, and workplaces to support mental health and team cohesion. Facilitators pair ceremony with trauma-informed practice and nature walks that ground the experience.