Owámniyomni art project

This project will create artworks honoring Owámniyomni.

Project details

Partner

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Budget

$425,000

Status

Community engagement.

About the project

The location is at Water Works Park near the sacred Dakhóta sites of Owámniyomni and Wita Nagi. It is within the Dakhóta traditional homelands. It is next to Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls) and the former site of Wíta Naǧí (Spirit Island).   (www2 says It is located near the Mill City Museum and the Stone Arch Bridge.)

Owámniyomni is a place of deep significance and rich cultural heritage for Indigenous peoples, particularly the Dakhóta.

Read the project goals

Process

In August 2025 an independent selection panel selected the artist team.

The artists will create artworks honoring Owámniyomni. Their first assignment will be in-depth community engagement. 

See the artists and selection panel

Aerial view of the upper St. Anthony Falls lock and dam

Owámniyomni, Jewell Arcoren

Watch the video to learn more about the importance of Owámniyomni and Wíta Naǧí to Dakota people. This video features Jewell Arcoren, Dakota and Ojibwe language educator and community activist. 

Goals

The goals for the public art project are:

  • Center Dakhóta values, stories and voices.
  • Recognize the lasting resiliency and influence of Native people.
  • Build collective relationships to land and water.
  • Cultivate collaboration, inclusivity and shared success.
  • Support the growth of artists.

Artists selected

The artists were selected using a process based on the City’s new artist selection policies for Native American-Focused projects.

Read Appendix D of the policy

The selection panelists were Native American:

  • Educators
  • Artists
  • Culture bearers
  • Elders

The artists selected are:

  • Talon Cavender-Wilson
  • Dani Prados
  • Lyric Duis
  • Arabella Howell

Artists

Three of the artists (Wilson, Howell and Duis) are Dakhóta from Pezihutazizi K’api (Upper Sioux Community).

Prados has worked with the Upper Sioux Community on art programming for almost five years.

These artists work under the team name “Thipi K’iƞ.”  It means an animal that carries a house on its back.

Learn more about each artist

Talon Cavender Wilson Owamniyomni artist
Owamniyomni artist Lyric Duis
Owamniyomni artist Dani Prados
Owamniyomni artist Arabella Howell

Talon Cavender-Wilson

Lyric Duis

Dani Prados

Arabella Howell

Related projects

This project works alongside other Native American efforts in the Twin Cities. One of those projects is Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is a Dakhóta-led non-profit.

Learn about the Owámniyomni project

Their goal is a future where Dakhóta culture thrives and Dakhóta values shape daily life. This includes values such as mni wičóni, or water is life. They will be transforming land at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). The transformation will include restoration, education, healing and connection.

Contact us

Ann Godfrey

Arts & Cultural Affairs

Email Ann Godfrey

Phone

612-673-3006

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 510
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Lydia Four Horns

Arts & Cultural Affairs Department

Email Lydia Four Horns

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 510
Minneapolis, MN 55415