Official transfer of park land to the Upper Sioux Community signing of the deed. Governor Tim Wals, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen

Former Minnesota state park lands were officially returned to the Upper Sioux Community on Friday. Tribal and state officials gathered at the Upper Sioux Community for a ceremony that included signings of the official deed for land that was once part of the Upper Sioux Agency State Park.

“After years of work, I’m grateful to mark the official return of this land to the Yellow Medicine Dakota People,” said Gov. Tim Walz, who took part in the transfer ceremony. “In 2019, Chairman Kevin Jensvold shared with me the history and significance of this land to the Yellow Medicine People. Together as partners — tribal, state, and federal — we worked to return the land to its original caretakers. This isn’t us doing the right thing, we are simply undoing the wrong thing.”

Friday’s land transfer ceremony included an invocation, traditional Dakota customs, remarks from tribal and state leaders, and signings of the deed for the park lands, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said in a news release.

The process of transferring the state park lands back to the Upper Sioux Community got started after action by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023. On Friday, DNR spokespeople said the land is the homeland of Dakota people. It was also the site of starvation and death of native people during the summer of 1862, when the U.S. government did not provide the Dakota with food promised by treaty.

“This land transfer is an important moment in our state’s history. Given its significance to Dakota people and the tragic events that took place there, it was inappropriate to continue to operate a park at that site,” DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said.

The state park was permanently closed last month in anticipation of the land transfer.

“Today is a historic and powerful day for the Yellow Medicine Oyate and the state of Minnesota,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. “It was an honor to be invited by the Yellow Medicine Community to be present during this historic moment, but this didn’t just happen overnight. The governor was the first governor to visit the Yellow Medicine Community since former Governor Sibley led a war party to them. The governor and I are committed to continuing our strong partnerships with tribal governments. We have been working towards this day with Chairman Jensvold since we took office. I am proud to stand with the Governor at Pezihutazizi Kapi Makoce (Land Where They Dig the Yellow Medicine) to witness this historic event.”

As part of the land transfer process, the DNR has been looking at other possible recreational lands or opportunities in the region. Strommen said that part of the process is still ongoing.

“Minnesota DNR has been honored and humbled to have worked with the Upper Sioux Community on the return this land to the Community. We now look forward to continuing to explore new recreation opportunities in the Minnesota River Valley,” Strommen said.