This August, the nonprofit Dakota organization Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, also known as Friends of the Falls, installed a new self-guided audio tour near St. Anthony Falls. The audio tour can be accessed through five signs throughout Mill Ruins Park and on the Stone Arch Bridge that contain QR codes to a brief narration about the history of the falls and the Dakota experience of colonization in the area.
The tour provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about the sacred nature of the falls, known as Owámniyomni in the Dakota language, from an Indigenous perspective. Colonization, greed, relationship to the land and the spirit of the river are some of the most important topics mentioned. Provided to all listeners in both English and Dakota, the audio tour was put together by students from Harding High School in St. Paul and narrated by members of various Dakota communities in the Midwest.
An enjoyable and thought-provoking activity, the tour makes any trip to the falls and the surrounding area a more valuable experience. Listening to the Dakota language and music while contemplating the terrible Dakota experiences of colonization was thought-provoking and looking out on the Mississippi and the falls while listening to the narration felt deeply moving and inspiring. The contrast between the crumbling mill ruins, the polluted grasses and the blocky concrete Lock & Dam versus the powerful river, the bright fall colors and the beautiful narration about the spirit of the water, was striking.
However, the audio content itself lacks substance. For those interested in a more in-depth understanding of the Dakota history at the falls, it probably isn’t worth a trip just for the tour. The narrations are extremely short and contain disappointingly little informative content. There is much more detailed signage about the history of the mill and the Lock & Dam, which is also quite interesting. In any case, Mill Ruins Park and the Stone Arch Bridge, which is partially closed, definitely warrant a trip by themselves for those who have never been.
The new Dakota tour is a greatly valuable addition to the area. Although there is certainly room for improvement, this installation is a critical step in an ongoing process of bringing an Indigenous presence back to the falls. In fact, according to its creators, it is the first time that there has been a physical Dakota presence on-site since colonization. Along with the added bonuses of gorgeous, though quickly fading, fall colors and it being Native American Heritage Month, the new tour definitely warrants a trip to the falls before winter.
When visiting the tour, the best place to park is the Whitney Mill Quarter parking lot, which is right next to the first sign where the tour begins. A virtual tour is also available.
