St Paul Renames Two Parks Reflecting Dakota Heritage

The St. Paul City Council unanimously voted to rename Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and Indian Mounds Regional Park to Waḳaƞ Ṭípi and Wic̣aḣapi, respectively, honoring their sacred significance to the Dakota people. These names, meaning “dwelling place of the sacred” and “cemetery,” reflect Dakota heritage and spiritual connections to the land. The two sites will collectively be designated as the cultural landscape Imniżaska, a Dakota term for “white cliffs” historically referencing the St. Paul area. The renaming follows recommendations from Minnesota’s Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and was led by Dakota leaders, with broad support from city officials including Mayor Melvin Carter and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to restore truth, preserve Dakota history, and transform the parks’ programming to better reflect their cultural importance, including new signage and co-management agreements with Native organizations. This action marks a meaningful step beyond land acknowledgments to actively honor and protect Dakota ancestral homelands in St. Paul.