Hotel & Local Attractions

Minneapolis, like many cities, is dealing with significant social challenges, including homelessness and a fentanyl epidemic. In South Minneapolis, you'll likely see the effects of this crisis, and it’s something to be aware of when you're visiting.

All My Relations Arts: AMRA is a program of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI). As a gallery, AMRA is one of the few Midwest hubs for contemporary Native art and an integral place for advancing the careers of Native artists. AMRA is a national platform for the elevation of contemporary Native artists and provides continued support for artists and art professionals. Gallery hours Tuesday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm. Located in the Franklin Ave Cultural District (see below) at 1414 East Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (2 miles from hotel).

Birchbark Books & Native Arts: Birchbark Books is operated by a spirited collection of people who believe in the power of good writing, the beauty of handmade art, the strength of Native culture, and the importance of small and intimate bookstores. Our books are lovingly chosen. Our store is tended with care. Open daily 10am to 6pm at 2115 West 21st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55405 (3 miles from hotel). 

Franklin Ave Cultural District/American Indian Cultural Corridor: The Dakota people are the original stewards of the land that Minneapolis now stands upon, including the Franklin Avenue East Cultural District. This multi-block area features community murals and art installations, indigenous shops and galleries, and restaurants with dishes like sweet corn pancakes, wild rice, hominy, and Indian tacos. Wander the area, schedule a tour to learn about the Indigenous history of the area, or visit on Thursdays, 11am to 3pm to catch the Four Sisters Farmers Market. See the website for full details, hours, and locations. 

Gatherings Cafe: The Gatherings Cafe strives to provide accessible, healthy, Indigenous food and knowledge to the Twin Cities Native and greater community. It serves fresh, locally grown foods that are prepared using innovation mixed with ancestral knowledge. Gatherings Cafe is housed within the Minneapolis American Indian Center, a community center that has provided critical services to the Twin Cities Native community since 1975. Open Monday - Friday, 8am to 3pm. Located in the Franklin Ave Cultural District (see above) at at 1530 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (2 miles from the hotel).

Historic Fort Snelling: This National Historic Landmark resides on Dakota homeland, at the confluence of the two rivers known as Bdote, with history spanning 10,000 years. "It's a place of rebirth and birth, but it's also a place of great tragedy." Gabrielle Tateyuskanskan. You can view a short video about the site. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday - Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Admission includes the Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place exhibit, orientation film, and Fort 101 tours to the historic fort, weather permitting. Purchase tickets on site. Admission: $12/adults, free/Native Americans and Veterans. Located at 200 Tower Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55111 (12 miles from hotel).

Owamni: Owamni is a full-service Indigenous restaurant created by The Sioux Chef in 2021 for the purposes of job creation (featuring a majority Native staff), moving more Indigenous products developed by Native food producers, and showcasing true North American Indigenous foods and culture. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 11am to 9pm at 420 S. 1st St, Minneapolis MN 55401 (1 mile from hotel). Reservations required.

Pow Wow Grounds: Pow Wow Grounds has been caffeinating and feeding the American Indian community in Minneapolis since 2010. Open Monday - Friday, 7am to 5pm and Saturday, 9am to 4pm. Located in the Franklin Ave Cultural District (see above) at 1414 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (2 miles from the hotel).

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi (Pow Wow): August 15-17. The wacipi (pronounced wah-CHEE-pee), or pow wow, is a traditional Native American celebration of life. It is a time when people gather together to dance, sing, and celebrate, while renewing friendships, old and new. Meaning “they dance” in the Dakota language, the wacipi has transcended generations and has taken on new forms and meanings over the years. Historically, it was a time to gather at the end of a season, to celebrate a good hunt, or to recognize a positive event. While the dances still hold sacred ceremonial meaning for those who participate, today’s wacipi has evolved into a contest powwow, where dancers and drum groups compete for top honors and prize money. 3212 Dakotah Parkway, Shakopee, MN 55379 (27 miles from the hotel).

BDOTE Memory Map: 'Place' is a useful lens for learning, particularly about people indigenous to a given area. The Bdote Memory Map website suggests issues of history erased, justice denied and stewardship needed. The Memory Map is intended to be a glimpse, a beginning point, a way to imagine learning FROM Dakota people. Recognition of the connection of Dakota people to this place (these places) leads to hidden truth in viewing history and contemporary relationships.

Sacred Land – BDOTE: Dakota elder Dave Larsen describes the Bdote as “where everything began and where everything began changing.” Delve into this landscape for a deeper understanding of the significance of this sacred site. 

BDOTE is Dakota Sacred Landscape: This short video talks about the Dakota people’s deep connection to this area.