Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community

02/02/2026

01/29/2026

On Thursday, we joined Blue Hummingbird Woman and family to honor her son Isaac Garcia of Isaac's Blessing Bags in receiving the Hamline University Beloved Community Member Award. We commend his legacy work to help our unsheltered, especially in these times when they are increasingly vulnerable. In the days to come, we'll share more stories of his impact, catch him live in action, and the additional efforts he and others are doing to keep our communities in St. Paul safe, especially Native, Black and brown relatives.

Keynote speakers at the award ceremony noted Dream speech from 1965. Isaac, a recent Tiwahe grantee, shows us the future our Native youth are preparing, embodying the belief that all life is interrelated and that, "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be."

It was such a joy to be with you and others in our Tiwahe family - you deserve every accolade and word of praise (especially because you are never seeking it).

Leadership



Bags

10/15/2025

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: To the members of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community,

You may have heard by now that Tom Smith and Eric Kardaal have filed a lawsuit against the federal government regarding the Lake Pepin Halfbreed Tract.

The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community is not in any way involved in this lawsuit
The MMDTC Tribal Council has no plans to involve the MMDTC in this lawsuit in the future
The MMDTC stands with the federally recognized Dakota communities and supports their sovereignty

Sincerely,

The MMDTC Tribal Council
Dakota Machgan (Tribal Chairperson)
Carol LaBine (Vice Chairperson)
Tracie Heinen (Treasurer)
Danielle Ross (Secretary)
Gregory Strandmark (Historian)

09/10/2025

✨COME VOLUNTEER! ✨

MMDTC is looking for extra hands over the next few days to set up tents and marking layouts!

If available come help out tomorrow and Thursday for Wacipi set up.

Or do Saturday and Sunday to help during the Wacipi itself.

Food and beverages provided for all volunteers!

St Peter Church grounds 1405f Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota Heights, MN

Sign up below:

09/08/2025

Excited to see you there!

Everyone come check out our friends at EOCWoodworks and their amazing pieces of art at the upcoming Wacipi!!