Event Schedule for Indigenous People’s Day, Mankato, 2025
October 10-13th, Mankato’s Indigenous People’s Day Committee is excited to invite the community to a weekend full of events.
This year’s main event will be at Mankato East High School and will feature live music, cultural demonstrations, indigenous vendors, Planetarium Showings of Dakota star knowledge and more. The overall theme of this year’s event is “Claiming Our Courage Together: Learning without Fear.”
All events are free and open to the public. Follow Indigenous People’s Day Mankato on Facebook for updates.
Since 2018, the city of Mankato has recognized the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day. For more information, visit www.mahkatorevitalizationproject.org/ipdmankato, contact the committee via their Facebook page or call Megan Heutmaker at 651-491-1122.
Community Film Showings, FREE:
“Columbus Day Legacy” explores tensions and contradictions between Native and Italian-American participants in the ongoing Columbus Day parade controversy in Denver, Colorado.This very personal yet public conflict is visualized through hard questions about the freedom of speech, the interpretation of history, and what it means to be an “American.” – Vision Maker Media
Friday Oct 10, 2025
- 1:00 PM Showing at Blue Earth County Historical Society – 424 Warren Street, Mankato
- 3:00 PM Showing at MSU Campus – MSU Campus, Centennial Student Union, Room 245 – 620 West S Road, Mankato – FREE Parking in CSU Visitor Lot
MAIN EVENT, FREE:
Indigenous People’s Day Community Celebration
Monday Oct 13, 2025 3pm-7pm at Mankato East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road
- Live Music : Bluedog Blues Band
- Planetarium Showings: Dakota Astrology
- Cultural Education: Traditional hand games, Flintknapping
- Kids Activities: Loom weaving, Coloring and more
- Food Vendors: TNT Eats, Sleepy Bison Acres and more
- Craft Vendors: Prairie Willow, Wiimąnį Homestead and more
In addition to the weekend events, Blue Earth County Library and Blue Earth County Historical Society are hosting a community read & book discussions, which will lead up to the author visiting MSU in November.
Community Read & Book Discussions, FREE:
“Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask” by Anton Treuer
“Treuer, an Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist, addresses nearly 200 questions on a range of topics–questions that are thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical, and always interesting.” – Birchbark Books
Community discussions:
- Blue Earth County Historical Society, 424 Warren Street, Mankato – Saturday, Sept 27, 10AM
- Blue Earth County Library, 100 E. Main, Mankato – Saturday, Oct 4, 10AM
- Blue Earth County Library, 100 E. Main, Mankato – Wednesday, Oct 8, 10:30AM Storytime
Author talk with Anton Treuer at American Indian Night:
- Friday, November 14th, 5:00 PM – Minnesota State University Mankato, CSU Ballroom 620 West S Road, Mankato – FREE Parking in CSU Visitor Lot
