The idea of a historic statue emerged as part of the downtown improvements project design process. Commonly called Tiŋta-otoŋwe (village of the prairie), the village near the banks of the Minnesota River was a place of summer bark lodges, winter tipis and plentiful cornfields with the river providing natural protection for its people. He is a descendant of the second Chief Sakpe for which the City of Shakopee is named. It honors where we've been and serves as a landmark feature for people coming into the city,' said Michael Kerski, director of Planning and Development.Ĭhief Sakpe was the leader of a Mdewakanton Dakota village in the mid-1800s. 'The statue physically connects people with Shakopee's history.
The new statue fits well with the city's overall goal of revisioning downtown as a place to gather and celebrate our heritage. Read the full story in the Winter 2018 Hometown MessengerĪ new statue of Chief Sakpe will soon be watching over downtown Shakopee thanks to a partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC).
