Ice hockey, arctic blasts, and the legendary blizzard on Halloween in 1991 are just some of the things that define Minnesota. But beyond the bone-chilling cold, Minnesotans offer much more than what meets the eye.

Every Minnesotan knows the term “Minnesota nice.” It is not only a widespread phenomenon in the state but is on practically every T-shirt, mug, and keychain at the MSP airport. It is safe to say Minnesotans have earned a rep, but is it real? Senior Ada LaTarte, a self-proclaimed Minnesotan, moved to the Twin Cities from South Bend, Indiana, in 3rd grade. As a seven-year-old, she made friends almost instantly. Still, it was a different experience for her parents: “My parents talked a lot about how they had a hard time making friends with co-workers … Minnesotans never invite you over for dinner,” she said.

LaTarte and her family have flipped the tables and picked up the Minnesotan way: “Now, we don’t invite very many people for dinner.”

With the lack of dinner invitees, LaTarte and her family choose to spend time in their cabin up North, arguably the most Minnesotan place. Located next to a dog-sledding center and ski route, some of LaTarte’s fondest memories were spent outside: “We do some cross-country skiing, a lot of snowshoeing, and family hikes,” she said.

LaTarte is not the only one who took advantage of Minnesota’s landscape while growing up. Senior Humza Jameel stayed true to living on the land of lakes after moving to Bemidji for a few years. Jameel spent his summers on Lake Bemidji, which was conveniently in his backyard: “It was so cool because I was a five-year-old kayaking by myself,” he said.

Bemidji is an iconic city for many reasons, like being home to the iconic Paul Bunyan statue. However, Jameel favors the town for something that is not actually in Bemidji: “The coolest thing is that Bemidji is close to Lake Itasca, which is where the Mississippi River starts, so I got to do the crosswalk many times,” he said.

While “nice” Minnesotans and their state have much to offer, that is not what it is primarily known for… at least not recently. Minnesota politics were the hot topic in the news last November, all thanks to Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota’s very own governor, Tim Walz. LaTarte believes that Walz is the “perfect representation of Minnesotans.”

LaTarte’s lifestyle parallels Walz’s: “He went to watch A Complete Unknown at Grandview theater, where me and my friend catch movies every month and I drive past his house multiple times a week,” she said.

While Tim Walz may represent the brighter side of Minnesota politics and history, the state has had monumental setbacks. In May 2020, George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. The incident sparked outrage throughout the country while Minneapolis was set ablaze by rioters. Sophomore Stella Hunter finds that she has had to tiptoe around conversations about race since then.

“Having something like that happen in Minnesota makes race such a heated topic,” Hunter said.

Hunter is firm in blaming enforcement rather than individuals and noticed Minnesota’s choice to do the same: “In Minnesota, we took that first step in recognizing that it was the policeman who was at fault.”

Hunter believes the Minnesotan government is working hard to rebuild trust and representation. She looks up to the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan, an Ojibwe woman. As an Indigenous woman, Hunter sees Flanagan as a glimmer of resilience: “With Peggy being the lieutenant governor, that definitely gives me hope,” she said.

For Hunter, Jameel, and LaTarte, Minnesota may be bitterly cold, but the state is shaped by the warmth of its people.