About Wakaŋ Tipi Center
Named Wakan Tipi Center to honor the significance of Wakan Tipi Cave as a Dakota sacred site, the mission of Wakan Tipi Center is to serve as an intergenerational gathering place that honors Wakan Tipi and the maḳa paha as Daḳota sacred sites. Our work here connects people to this sacred landscape though immersive experiences in Daḳota history, lifeways, language, and values.
The building will feature an exhibit hall, classrooms, ceremony space, a community gathering area, a teaching kitchen, and teaching gardens to showcase and expand the value of the sanctuary as a place for cultural healing, life-long learning, and inspiration.
Campaign Status
In 2018, with a $3 Million appropriation from the State of Minnesota, Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi launched a capital campaign to develop Wakan Tipi Center at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in Saint Paul, MN. The total cost of this project is $13.5 million.
With our most recent $2.5 million in bonding as of May of 2023, we have raised $13.2 of our $13.5 million goal.
Project Status
As of November 2022, Phase 1 (site and utility work) was completed. Phase 2, building construction, is currently pending as Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi works through securing state bonds. We plan to bid the project in winter of 2023 with an anticipated construction start in spring of 2024. We are planning for a grand opening of the Center in 2025.
Phase 3 of the project will expand the parking lot, complete landscaping and trail connection work. This phase cannot begin until the reconstruction of the 3rd Street/Kellogg Bridge is complete. We anticipate beginning Phase 3 construction in 2026.
Visitor Interpretive Experience + Exhibit Plans
We have worked over four years with planners at 106 Group and our Dakota-led Steering Committee to develop our Visitor Interpretive Experience Plan (VIEP) and Exhibit Plans for Wakan Tipi Center. Click below to view our planning documents:
Wakáŋ Tipi Center in the News
MPR News 6/14/22 “Sacred in the city: Indigenous site in St. Paul prepared to welcome, educate public”
Star Tribune 3/25/22 “American Indian groups rally at Capitol for state money for 12 new facilities”
MinnPost Article 10/28/21 “After 184 years, a home for Dakota people and culture returns to Wakan Tipi”
Star Tribune 10/11/21 “St. Paul dedicates land for future Dakota cultural, environmental center”
Star Tribune Article 7/11/2021 “Years in the making: $8.6 million Wakan Tipi Center will be epicenter for Dakota culture in Saint Paul”
Indian Country Today daily newscast 7/6/2021 “Restoring the Land” (7:00 minute mark)
Pioneer Press Article 6/25/2021 “Funding falls into place for $8.6 million Wakan Tipi Center at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in Saint Paul”
MPR Article 11/12/2020 “ChangeMaker: Maggie Lorenz, preserving cultural heritage through land preservation”
Pioneer Press Article 10/5/2020 “Carver’s Cave historical marker removed by city — then stolen”
American Indian Month on KFAI 5/9/2020 “Robert Pilot hosts an on-air open house discussing the Wakan Tipi – Lower Phalen Creek Project”
Press Release 1/14/2020 “McCollum Recognizes Fourth District National Endowment for the Humanities Grant Recipients”
PBS Almanac 7/12/2019 “Wakan Tipi Center”
Minn Post Article 7/9/2019 “Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary: Reversing harm, adding history with Wakan Tipi Center”
Lillie News Article 6/10/2019 “With fundraising halfway there, Wakan Tipi Center planning is on”
Star Tribune Article 6/1/2018 “State money brings visitor center at St. Paul nature sanctuary closer to reality”
Give
To learn more about how to support this project, contact Maggie Lorenz at mlorenz@wakantipi.org
Wakáŋ Tipi Center Surveys
Download our 2017 community survey for Wakan Tipi Center to see what the community said they wanted to see at the future Center!
Keep watching our website for up-to-date information about the Wakan Tipi Center project
