Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA)

In 1985, Minnesota state legislators passed the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA) to address shortcomings in the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. The federal law had been enacted in 1978 in response to the alarming number of Native American children being removed from their families and placed in non-Native foster and adoptive homes. MIFPA gave Minnesota tribes more authority in all child custody decisions involving Native children.

State Senator Mary Kunesh and Fond du Lac Chairman Kevin DuPuis

State Senator Mary Kunesh and Fond du Lac Chairman Kevin DuPuis

Kevin DuPuis, chairman of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, speaks to Minnesota state senators on February 7, 2023, at the Minnesota Senate Building in St. Paul. State Senator Mary Kunesh (Standing Rock Sioux descendent, right), a Democrat from New Brighton, was the chief author of a bill to amend the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA). Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer. Used with the permission of Michelle Griffith.

Patricia Staine (right) and Minnesota Representative Alicia Kozlowski

Patricia Staine (right) and Minnesota Representative Alicia Kozlowski

Patricia Staine (right) testifies before the Minnesota House of Representatives on February 14, 2023, during a hearing on a bill to amend the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA). Representative Alicia Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth) sits at left. Copyright Minnesota House of Representatives; photo by Catherine Davis. Used with the permission of House Public Information Services.

State Representatives Keeler, Kozlowski, and Becker-Finn during House debate on MIFPA

State Representatives Keeler, Kozlowski, and Becker-Finn during House debate on MIFPA

Minnesota Representative Heather Keeler (DFL-Moorhead, standing at right) speaks about MIFPA on the floor of the Minnesota House on March 9, 2023. Representatives Alicia Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth, standing at center) and Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL-Roseville, standing at left) listen. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer. Used with the permission of Michelle Griffith.

Postcard illustration of Nanabozho fighting with Paul Bunyan

Postcard illustration of Nanabozho fighting with Paul Bunyan

Postcard illustration of Nanabozho fighting with Paul Bunyan. Distributed by the Tribal Council of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa no later than 1995.

Map of land transfered by the Minnesota Historical Society to the Lower Sioux Indian Community in 2022

Map of land transfered by the Minnesota Historical Society to the Lower Sioux Indian Community in 2022

Map of land transferred by the Minnesota Historical Society to the Lower Sioux Indian Community in 2017.

Jim Denomie and Peter Lommen

Jim Denomie and Peter Lommen

Jim Denomie and Peter Lommen at the McKnight Distinguished Artist Award ceremony, November 14, 2019. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Myotus.

Jim Denomie speaking

Jim Denomie speaking

Jim Denomie speaking in front of one of his paintings at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth. Photo by Ivy Vainio, 2018. Used with the permission of Ivy Vainio.

“Vatican Cafe”

“Vatican Cafe”

“Vatican Cafe.” Oil-on-canvas painting by Jim Denomie, 2014, on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the exhibition “The Lyrical Artwork of Jim Denomie.” Photograph by Flickr Commons user Scott Ashkenaz, July 12, 2023. See also the Minneapolis Institute of Art's catalog record for the painting.

Jim Denomie with Jonathan Thunder

Jim Denomie with Jonathan Thunder

Jim Denomie (left) laughing with Jonathan Thunder (right) in Bockley Gallery, Minneapolis. Photo by Tashia Hart, August 2021. Used with the permission of Tashia Hart.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Native Americans