Where: Battle Creek Recreation Center, Saint Paul Minnesota
When: May 24, 2025
Series: Marlena Myles & Tanagidan To Win Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence (MNPAiR) program (artists-in-residence)
On May 24, 2025, more than 100 community members gathered at Battle Creek Pavilion for the Yaŋpá Spring-Wind Celebration & Nibi Water Walk, a day dedicated to honoring water, welcoming spring, and celebrating Dakota culture through art, teachings, and community.
The day began with a Nibi Water Walk and Ceremony led by Sharon Day, as participants walked the winding path through Battle Creek in prayer for the water, carrying messages of love, healing, and hope for its protection. For many attendees, it was their first experience participating in a water walk, making the day especially meaningful.
As part of the celebration, we were honored to present Sharon Day with a custom-designed blanket in recognition of her leadership and lifelong commitment to protecting water. We also distributed 150 commemorative water bottles featuring original poetry by Blue Hummingbird Woman alongside artwork by Marlena Myles, creating a lasting reminder of the day’s teachings.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors of all ages participated in a wide range of cultural activities and creative workshops, including Dakota storytelling, puppetry, screen printing, traditional field games, Indigenous food demonstrations, augmented reality art, coloring pages, and an Indigenous Spring Market featuring more than 30 Native artists and vendors.
One of the highlights of the day was seeing people of all ages come together to play traditional Dakota games. A heartfelt pidamayaye to our relatives from Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Shakopee Indian Education Program for sharing double ball equipment, lacrosse sticks, and goal poles with the community. Their generosity helped create an opportunity for many participants to experience these traditional games for the first time.
Download these free resources
You are free to print these coloring pages and view the augmented reality of Waziya the Winter anytime, anywhere!
The celebration reflected the spirit of Yaŋpá, the Dakota Spring Wind of the East—a season of renewal, growth, and new beginnings. Through art, storytelling, games, and ceremony, participants strengthened relationships with one another, the land, and the waters that sustain us.
The event was part of the Minnesota Parks Artist in Residence program, where artists Marlena Myles and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wiŋ, in partnership with Ramsey County Parks and Recreation, worked to create welcoming spaces where Indigenous knowledge, creativity, and community could flourish. Many attendees shared that it was their first visit to Battle Creek and their first time participating in a water walk, highlighting the importance of creating opportunities for people to connect with this place, its stories, and one another.
Wopida tanka to everyone who attended, volunteered, presented, performed, vended, and supported the celebration. Your presence made it a joyful day filled with learning, laughter, healing, and community.
The Yaŋpá Spring-Wind Celebration marked another step in a growing vision for Battle Creek. It helped lay the foundation for future seasonal celebrations, workshops, a community medicine garden, and an outdoor classroom—creating lasting spaces where Dakota knowledge, environmental stewardship, art, and community continue to grow together.
