Mayor Frey, Community Leaders Announce Transfer of Lock-and-Dam Land to Dakota Stewardship

April 14, 2025
Public Service

Mayor Frey joined City and community leaders to announce the upcoming transfer of federal land near the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to Owámniyomni Okhódayapi—a Dakota-led organization working in conjunction with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) to create a community space at the site featuring indigenous vegetation, restored water flow, and a renewed connection to the river.

“I’m proud to stand before you today to announce this historic milestone ten years in the making,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “Under the stewardship of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi and the guidance of the Dakota nations, the riverfront near the Lock and Dam will be transformed into a community gathering space that honors our shared past and looks toward an inclusive future. Thank you to all our City, government, and community partners for their unwavering vision and perseverance in bringing this project to life.”

Years of collaboration

The historic transfer, which will put sacred Dakota land back into the stewardship of Dakota people, has been nearly a decade in the making and reflects years of collaboration between the City of Minneapolis, federal leaders, Owámniyomni Okhódayap, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the MPRB, the four Dakota tribes of Minnesota, groups, and community stakeholders.

“This is a significant and exciting time in the City of Minneapolis,” said Council Member Michael Rainville (Ward 3). “The upcoming land transfer of this 5-acre site to a Dakota-led organization is a way for our city to lead in the process of truth and reconciliation with indigenous people.”

Efforts to transfer management of the site began in 2015, when the Upper Lock was closed to maritime traffic to halt the spread of invasive carp. In 2020, Congress passed legislation ordering the transfer of the site from the USACE to the City of Minneapolis or its designee. The City chose Friends of the Falls, now Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, as its designee to transform the area into a community space that honors its Indigenous significance.

“Owámniyomni is not only a place sacred to the Dakota—it is a place of shared importance to all who call this land home,” said Owámniyomni Okhódayapi President Shelley Buck. “Our vision for the land at Owámniyomni is to create a place of healing, beauty and belonging that is open to everyone—while reclaiming Dakota stewardship of this land, restoring native plantings and uplifting traditional practices in caring for our natural relatives. We’re grateful to our partners at the City of Minneapolis and the MPRB for honoring the true history of Owámniyomni through this agreement and look forward to celebrating the full transfer of land ownership back to Dakota peoples by the end of 2026.”

Project overview

Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is leading the project to restore the land in close collaboration with the four Dakota tribes of Minnesota. It will be completed in four phases, referred to as “seasons.”

  • Season One (2016 to 2022) included the formation of Friends of the Falls, the agreement to transfer the site from the USACE to the City or a designee, and community conversations about the future of the land.
  • During Season Two (2023-2025), Friends of the Falls was renamed Owámniyomni Okhódayapi and transitioned to Dakota leadership, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi sign 25-year lease with the USACE for site access and programming, and the four local Dakota tribal nations and leaders from the Dakota diaspora lead the vision for the site’s future.
  • In Season Three (2026-2027) the official land transfer and restoration of Indigenous landscapes begins.
  • In Season Four (beginning in 2028) Owámniyomni Okhódayapi will create a public gathering space that honors Dakota history, language, lifeways, and culture for both Native and non-Native community members alike.

“The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is honored to be part of such an important, transformative, collaborative project,” said MPRB President Cathy Aben. “Most of the Mississippi River shoreline through Minneapolis is parkland, preserved for and accessible to the people. We are excited for the City’s transfer of federal land, which is adjacent to parkland, and for the opportunity to work together with Owámniyomni Okhódayapi on developing cultural spaces and educational programming.”

This transformational project will restore and honor this place of deep significance and rich cultural heritage for Dakota peoples locally and across the country. The City of Minneapolis is proud to support Owámniyomni Okhódayapi vision, moving the riverfront away from its industrial past and returning it to a more natural state rooted in Dakota heritage.

The project is occurring in alignment with other river-focused projects, including the adjacent Water Works project led by MPRB, which will include public artwork commissioned by the City.

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