The Friends of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge invited two Native American Drum groups out to the new amphitheater in order to complete a drum ceremony. 

The performing groups included the Red Tree Drum Group and the Native American Student Association, from Hinkley, representing Dakota and Ojibwe tribes. 

The ceremony was held to bless and celebrate the new amphitheater, which was built by the Friends of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of building the amphitheater was to have a location for performances, lectures, and educational opportunities for students. The Friends funded the project and will be officially donating the work to the refuge in the near future. 

According to Myrna Krueger, of the Friends, it was important to the organization to invite representatives of the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes to celebrate and bless the amphitheater, as these tribes were the original inhabitants of the area that is now the refuge. 

The event was also an opportunity to appreciate the artwork, set directly into the concrete of the amphitheater, created by Holly Young, Dakota artist, and Giizh Agaton Howes, Anishinaabe-Ojibwe artist.

“The presence of traditional yet contemporary Native American art at the refuge gives visibility to the important past and current presence of Indigenous people in Minnesota,” commented Krueger.

Around 160 guests came to witness the ceremony, and many commented on the talent of the drummers. Krueger noted that the artists were wonderful to work with. 

The amphitheater project was recently completed and the area is open to the public at the Oak Savanna Learning Center. There are also trails in the area for hiking and experiencing the refuge.