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Native American Tribes of Minnesota

Welcome to our Minnesota State Facts section, part of an educational project designed to provide information about indigenous people in different U.S. states. Follow the links to the right of our tribal map for more information about the language, culture and history of each Minnesota tribe, or scroll below the map for Minnesota Indian activities including a wordsearch, fact sheets, and words from the Native American languages of Minnesota. Feel free to print any of these materials out for classroom use!

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American Indians in Minnesota

Did you know the name "Minnesota" is a Siouan Indian word? It means "cloudy water." The Sioux are not the only native people of this region, however.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Minnesota included:

About Our Maps

The Dakota Sioux tribe

The Ojibwe tribe (also known as
Chippewa, Ojibway, or Ojibwa)

There are eleven federally recognized Indian tribes in Minnesota today.

Here are the addresses of Minnesota's Indian reservations:

Minnesota tribes today

1 Bois Forte Band of Chippewas:
PO Box 16
Nett Lake, MN 59772
http://www.boisfortertc.com/

2 Fond du Lac Ojibwe:
105 University Rd
Cloquet, MN 55720

3 Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe:
P.O. Box 233
Grand Portage, MN 55605

4 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe:
Rt 3 Box 11
Cass Lake, MN 56633
http://www.leechlakeojibwe.org/

5 Lower Sioux Indian Community:
Rt 1 Box 308
Morton, MN 56270

6 Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe:
HRC-67 Box 194
Onamia, MN 56359
http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/

7 Prairie Island Indian Community (Dakota):
5636 Sturgeon Lake Road
Welch, MN 550889

8 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians:
PO Box 550
Red Lake, MN 56671
http://www.redlakenation.org/

9 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux:
2330 Sioux Tr. N.W.
Prior Lake, MN 55372

10 Upper Sioux Indian Community:
PO Box 147
Granite Falls, MN 56241

11 White Earth Ojibwe:
PO Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591

Teaching and learning activities about Minnesota Native Americans:

Feel free to print these out to use at school!

Minnesota Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Minnesota's Indian tribes.

Minnesota Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Minnesota languages.

Minnesota Native Animals: Learn the Native American names of Minnesota animals.

Minnesota Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Native American tribes of Minnesota.
We currently have pages for the Anishinaabe and Sioux tribes.

Recommended books about Minnesota Native Americans
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

Minnesota Native Americans:
Simple book introducing Minnesota's Native American history and culture to kids.

Indians in Minnesota:
A more in-depth book about the Minnesota Indians.

Minnesota American Indians:
Book on the history of the Ojibway and Dakota tribes.

Shannon, Ojibway Dancer:
Story of a contemporary Minnesota Indian girl and her family.

The Prehistoric Peoples of Minnesota:
Archaeology book on the ancient Indian cultures of Minnesota.

Ojibwe in Minnesota:
Good history of the Ojibwe people in Minnesota.

Through Dakota Eyes:
History of the Minnesota Sioux Uprising of 1862.

To Be the Main Leaders of our People:
Interesting political history of the Minnesota Ojibwe tribes.

Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region:
Handbook of herbs, food crops, and plant lore in southwest Minnesota and the Great Plains.

The Legend of Minnesota:
Children's picture book based on a folktale about cooperation between the Ojibway and Dakota tribes.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Minnesota state:

Minnesota Indian Affairs Council: Organization dedicated to the sovereignty and well-being of American Indians in Minnesota.

Minnesota Reservations: Extensive profiles of the Minnesota Indian tribes including culture, history, and contacts.

Minnesota Indian History: Historical profiles of American Indian tribes native to Minnesota.