In the 19th century, Native Americans created frybread from the limited rations provided by the US government, a dish that became a symbol of survival during persecution. Today, Native communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul, far from the nearest reservation, continue to feel the lasting impacts of oppression, including addiction and violence. However, places like the American Indian Cultural Corridor and Little Earth of United Tribes stand as both reminders of these challenges and powerful examples of resilience, where residents have turned to tradition, spirituality and community to not only survive but to live. Little Earth proves how decades after having their identities stripped away, these same communities are actively working to reclaim their cultural heritage and restore their past.
Osha “Willie” Wisko Miigwaan builds a fire to heat up stones for the evening’s sweat lodge behind the Anishinabe Wakiagun (The People’s Home) Housing Complex several blocks south of downtown Minneapolis, M.N., in the American Indian Cultural Corridor on June 13, 2024. In order for the stones to be used in ceremony, they must be completely covered by wood as they heat up.