Talk:Prairie Island Indian Community
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Prairie Island Indian Community
[edit]April 13, 2026
Minnesota would not be the same without the Prairie Island Indian Community. This report is about the Prairie Island Indian Community, also known as PIIC. On June 20, 1936, the federal government officially recognized them as a tribe. This report will describe their history, the Treasure Island Resort & Casino, and the powwows and other important community events.
The people of PIIC descend from the Bdewakantunwan Band of Eastern Dakota. The Prairie website said, “Despite past efforts to eliminate the Dakota Oyate from Minnesota, and the ongoing hazards we face, we are a resilient people, and Prairie Island will always be our home.” This explains how, even after hard times and people trying to kick them out of their homeland, they stay there and remain resilient and strong willed. They are one with the land, the water, and the prairies, which is what the word Bdewakantunwan means. Bdewakantunwan is from the Dakota language, which the people still use today. Some schools have a Dakota language teacher who teaches students the Dakota language. Their strong ancestors have had to adapt to hard climates and predators. The predators were the Englishman that was trying to take the land. Today, they are resilient by keeping their culture even after all this time and not assimilating. Assimilation is when you try to make other people leave their culture and change to yours. The Prairie Island culture has been here for years, and the culture hasn't changed.
The Treasure Island Resort and Casino is a massive part of the PIIC. It is a casino on the Prairie Island community reservation. They are the largest employer in the Goodhue County area. They give them work, health care, dental, and employee perks and benefits for working on the Island. There are more than 1,500 individual employees who work at the Prairie Island Indian Community. They employ people in hotels, casinos, entertainment, bowling, gambling, swimming, government, day care, grounds work, and other operations. They have generous perks for their employees and generate almost 20 million dollars a year. This impacts the economics of the community and cities around it, such as Red Wing, MN. From the Prairie Island website"In addition to our employees, we are attracting millions of visitors annually to Treasure Island Resort & Casino from across the country, amplifying our economic impact. Each year, Treasure Island Resort & Casino spends more than $60 million with Minnesota businesses. More than 200 new businesses have been created in the region to support resort operations." The quote shows that there are more opportunities for jobs because of the casino. Businesses by it are thriving because of the Island. The Treasure Island Casino makes a difference in the economy and the businesses around it.
Powwows are a central part of the Native American culture. On the Pow Wow website “Powwows are important to the Prairie Island community and are significant cultural events”. Every powwow begins with a grand entry, in which elders are the first in. Military veterans participate in a flag presentation ceremony. Visitors are expected to stand during this time. The grand entry concludes with a blessing, which is like a prayer. According to The Prairie Island website, “Prairie Island holds several wacipis throughout the year with dancing and singing competitions. The Memorial Day wacipi honors the Tribe’s brave military veterans who have died. Wacipi means dancing. Native American’s dance to respect the dead ancestors, celebrate and make ties to the Earth. The summer wacipi is the largest one of the year. People travel from all over the United States to go to this Wacipi. Wacipi, the Dakota name for dancing, are important to their culture. Wacipis are held at important grounds that are sacred and are important to the Native Americans. Wacipis last for several days. Wacipis are important gatherings for the Prairie Island Indian Community and other tribes.
Prairie Island Indian Community plays an important role in the history and culture of Minnesota. This report tells part of the history of the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Treasure Island Resort. It explains how meaningful powwows are to them. Lastly, we get to learn about the Casino and how it is a staple of the community. This is why Minnesota would not be the same without the Prairie Island Indian Community. Jameshoppman (talk) 19:41, 28 May 2026 (UTC)