Sasaki
Saint Paul, MN, Sept. 5, 2025 – For the first time in state history, the flags of Minnesota’s eleven federally recognized sovereign Tribal Nations will be permanently raised on the Capitol Grounds with the opening of the Tribal Flag Plaza.
Located on the Lower Capitol Mall, the Plaza honors the sovereignty, heritage, and enduring presence of the Tribal Nations who share land with Minnesota. Each flagpole is accompanied by plantings selected by the Tribes themselves, complemented by Minnesota-sourced granite pavers and benches that create a lasting space for recognition, reflection, and respect.
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB) is chaired by Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, who led the visioning, design, and realization of the Plaza. The idea was first raised during the 2021 Governor’s Tribal Summit and developed in close partnership with Tribal Nations, the Minnesota Legislature, and the Department of Administration.
“The Tribal Flag Plaza ensures that acknowledgment of Minnesota’s Tribal Nations is permanent, visible, and central to the Capitol Mall,” said Patina Park, Executive Director for Tribal State Relations and member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. “Future generations of both Native and non-Native Minnesotans will see these flags and know that sovereign Tribal Nations are integral to this state’s past, present, and future.”
Sasaki’s Design for the Capitol Mall Design Framework in Minnesota
The Plaza represents a cornerstone of Phase 1 of the Capitol Mall Design Framework, designed by Sasaki and adopted in May 2024 after engagement with more than 14,000 Minnesotans. Phase 1 also includes 171 new tree plantings, a pedestrian plaza, and a mural along Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Together, these efforts advance the Framework’s core goal: to create a Capitol Mall that is more welcoming to all Minnesotans.
“Sasaki is deeply honored to have worked alongside Tribal Nations and the State of Minnesota to design the Capitol Mall Design Framework and is even more excited to have the first phase of construction include such a meaningful contribution to the cultural legacy of the State,” said Josh Brooks, Principal at Sasaki. “This space is more than a plaza, it is a permanent symbol of respect, sovereignty, and recognition woven into the fabric of the Capitol Mall. We hope it becomes a place of gathering, reflection, and learning for generations to come.”
The Tribal Flag Plaza will proudly feature the flags of the following Tribal Nations:
Sasaki’s design for the Capitol Mall Design Framework in Minnesota
The Plaza’s design includes sacred plantings selected by each Tribe, eight white pines, and ten granite benches offering space for reflection. The first phase of construction also includes initial tree planting, which is part of the broader strategy of adding human comfort, universal accessibility, integrated security measures, and daily gathering spaces to the historic district surrounding the State House.
The Flag-Raising Ceremony and ribbon cutting will bring together Tribal leaders, state officials, and community members in a celebration of partnership and recognition.
About Sasaki:
Sasaki has been a leader in the design industry for 70 years. The firm is known for blending disciplines, engaging with clients and communities, drawing on history and context, and using data and emerging technologies to shape the built environment. With offices in Boston, Denver, New York, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, Sasaki’s 350 professionals partner with education, civic, and commercial clients around the world. Sasaki’s integrated services span architecture, interior design, planning and urban design, space planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering.
