Where: Battle Creek Recreation Center, Saint Paul Minnesota
When: May 30, 2026
Series: Marlena Myles & Tanagidan To Win Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence (MNPAiR) program (artists-in-residence)
On May 30, 2026, community members gathered once again at the Battle Creek Pavilion to celebrate the return of Yaŋpá, the Dakota Spring-Wind of the East, through a day of Dakota teachings, contemporary Indigenous artistry, and community connection.
Hosted by Marlena Myles and Blue Hummingbird Woman (Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wiŋ) as part of the Minnesota Parks Artist in Residence program in partnership with Ramsey County Parks and Recreation, the celebration welcomed people of all ages to learn, create, and celebrate the season of renewal together.
Throughout the afternoon, participants explored hands-on workshops, including beading wallets with Ninijjanis One of Ones, nettle weaving with Fern Renville, seed paper journaling with Tammy Villegas, Dakota Wind pinwheels, Native tea sampling, Dakota plant teachings, field games, Native food trucks, and an Indigenous Spring Market featuring Native artists and makers.
One of the highlights of the celebration was sharing a new Four Winds zine, offering Dakota teachings about the seasonal winds and their relationships to the land. Visitors took home these resources as a way to continue learning beyond the event and deepen their connection to the Dakota seasonal cycle.
The return of spring could also be seen in the first signs of the growing Three Sisters Garden. Witnessing the corn, beans, and squash beginning to emerge served as a powerful reminder of the teachings carried by Uŋčí Makhá (Grandmother Earth). Every seed holds the possibility of new life, and the garden continues to grow as a living classroom where Dakota ecological knowledge, community, and stewardship come together.
The Yaŋpá Spring-Wind Celebration reflected the season’s teachings of healing, renewal, and growth. Throughout the day, children, families, Elders, and visitors shared stories, learned new skills, and built relationships through art, culture, and the natural world.
Wopida to all of the knowledge keepers, artists, vendors, volunteers, and Ramsey County Parks and Recreation for helping make another wonderful celebration possible. Your generosity, creativity, and dedication continue to build spaces of belonging where Dakota teachings can be shared with the broader community.
As the Dakota Wind Celebrations continue through the seasons, each gathering strengthens connections between people, place, and the living world—creating opportunities for learning, healing, and joy that continue to grow year after year.
