Seal of Minnesota

Last updated
Great Seal of the State of Minnesota
Seal of Minnesota.svg
Armiger State of Minnesota
AdoptedMay 11, 2024
Motto Mni Sóta Makoce

The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota is the state seal of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was adopted on May 11, 2024, alongside the state flag, for Statehood Day. It features a common loon, Minnesota's state bird, wild rice, the state grain, and the North Star, representing the state's motto ( L'Étoile du Nord ), and is themed around Minnesota's nature. [1]

Contents

The previous seal’s design drew criticism for its depiction of the relationship between the American settlers and American Indian tribes. In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature created a commission to change both the seal and the state flag. [2] On December 5th, 2023, [3] they chose the current design by Ross Bruggink. [4]

Purpose

The duly elected secretary of state is custodian of the state seal in accordance with the Minnesota Constitution. [5] As with great seals in other jurisdictions, Minnesota's state seal serves to attest to the veracity of official government acts. In practice, the secretary of state uses the state seal to authenticate various instruments filed in his or her office, such as enrolled bills passed by the Legislature, [6] executive orders and proclamations issued by the governor, [7] [8] oaths of office for state officials, [9] state agency administrative rules, [10] [11] [12] [13] evidences of state debt, [14] extraditions, [15] [16] certificates of registration for trademarks, [17] notary public commissions, [18] certifications of notarized documents, [19] or changes to municipal boundaries, [20] among many other public documents. [21]

Design

The current seal, which was approved in 2023 [2] depicts a series of state symbols contained within a traditional round design, with lettering in an outer circle ringed by a series of gold rectangles and a collection of state symbols and other symbolism in the inner circle. There are official versions in color and black-and-white. The description is detailed in the official report of the State Emblems Redesign Commission. [22]

Text

Symbols

History

Minnesota state coat of arms (illustrated, 1876).jpg
Coat of arms shown in a historical armorial of U.S. states from 1876
Seal of Minnesota (1861-1983).svg
Seal of Minnesota (1861–1983)
State Seal of Minnesota.svg
Seal of Minnesota (1983–2024)

Territorial Seals

The need for a seal came when Minnesota became a territory in 1849 and it was necessary to stamp official documents with something. Territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey first used one of his own design—a sunburst surrounded by the motto, "Liberty, Law, Religion, and Education." The Territorial Council then approved a second version depicting a Native family offering a ceremonial pipe to a white visitor, symbolizing "the eternal friendship" between settlers and Native Americans. [25]

Fur trader and territorial Representative Henry M. Sibley then commissioned four alternative seals from Col. John J. Abert, an Army engineer and draftsman. One of the versions featured the theme occurring in the eventual state seal, i.e. a White settler plowing land just as an Indian rides horseback away towards the sun, of which Sibley asked a watercolor version, created by Army Capt. Seth Eastman. [25] Sibley dismissed Territorial Gov. Ramsey's concerns that the imagery was too hostile towards Native Americans, and in fact, he doubled down on his idea by adding an ax and a Latin motto saying "I wish to see what is beyond" (Latin : Quo sursum velo videre) instead of adding a teepee to the territorial symbol. That seal became official in 1849. [26]

Historic State Seal (1858–2024)

When Minnesota became a state in 1858, Sibley became the state's first governor. The state should have now changed the seal to reflect its new status, but, even though the Legislature approved a new design, Sibley insisted on the one he had promoted while he was a territorial representative. He changed the motto to the current one in French and reoriented the Native American horseman so that he would ride into the sunset. The Legislature yielded and approved Sibley's design in 1861. [26]

The seal was altered in 1983. The Native American figure was reoriented to ride more towards the farmer than away, and images of Saint Anthony Falls, the Mississippi River, and Norway pines were added. [27]

Symbolism of the 1858 seal

From 1858 to the 2024 redesign, seal included two human figures, a Native American warrior in the background and an American pioneer in the foreground. The Native American was on horseback riding westward until 1983 and southward afterwards, [28] [29] symbolizing Minnesota's Native American heritage. The only interaction between the figures was that they were observing each other. The rider's horse and spear, and the pioneer's hand axe, long gun, powder horn, and plow represented tools of daily life. The tools used by the Native American and the farmer represented the tools used for labor and hunting while the stump symbolized the taming of the land and the importance of the lumber industry to Minnesota in 1858. The furrowing of the ground by the plow represented the submission of the land to the pioneer. The plow also symbolized the importance of agriculture to Minnesota and its future. On the western horizon was a sunset. The straight horizon line reflected the plains covering much of Minnesota.

The Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls were depicted in the seal starting in 1983 to note the importance of these resources in transportation, industry and the settling of the state. Beyond the falls were three Norway pine trees representing the state tree and the three pine regions of the state: the St Croix, Mississippi, and Lake Superior. [30] [31] [32]

Criticism of the 1858 seal

When the 1858 seal was commissioned, it was fairly common for territories to adopt seals with the underlying theme of manifest destiny, i.e. the belief that American settlers were ordained by God to colonize new territories within the continent of North America, In order to expand the United States borders. [26] Mary, Seth Eastman's wife, wrote a poem that suggested that "the red man's course is onward" and that the land should come to "the white man's grasping hand." [33]

Indigenous groups in Minnesota find the imagery offensive because their perception is that the seal celebrated the removal of Native Americans. [26] [34] At the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the American Indian Movement criticized the design and called for its reevaluation. In 1968, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights concurred and called to replace it with something that would not show Native Americans in a derogatory light, but little action was taken. The design underwent a minor change in 1983 when the rider was turned southwards (towards the farmer) rather than westwards (towards the sunset), but this did not change the minds of many people about the symbolism. [25] Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL), who is a member of White Earth Band of Ojibwe, said the flag "literally [showed] the Native person being driven off their land" and refused to use the state seal in official documents prior to the redesign. [35] According to Kevin Jensvold, leader of the Upper Sioux Community, few tribal reservations in the state would fly the flag containing the old seal for the same reason. [36]

Contemporary State Seal (2024–present)

2023 Redesign Process

In February 2023, State Representative Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) introduced a bill that would create a State Emblems Redesign Commission (passed as part of the state budget). [37] Freiberg justified his decision by deriding the current state seal as "a cluttered genocidal mess" that was in need of change. New designs of the flag and the seal were to be submitted in a report to the legislature by January 1, 2024. The designs passed by the commission became official on May 11, 2024 (Statehood Day). [2] [36]

The commission put out an open call for submissions in October 2023, [38] then selected a pool of finalists. On December 5, 2023, the commission declared the new design by Ross Bruggink the winner in the contest, subject to small corrections. [4]

Seal of Minnesota.svg
Seal of Minnesota (2024–present)

Symbolism of the 2024 seal

The seal features a common loon (the state bird), the North Star, Northern wild rice (the state grain), and some pine trees (the state tree being the Norway pine). The seal also contains the Dakota phrase Mni Sóta Makoce, which is translated to 'land where the waters reflect the sky'.

On December 19, 2023, the commission standardized the design by specifying that the outer seal will have 98 gold "boxes" to symbolize the 87 counties and 11 recognized American Indian tribes of Minnesota

Criticism of the 2024 seal

The replacement of the Official Minnesota State Motto L'Etoile du Nord (translated to English as 'The Star of the North') with a Dakota language phrase Mni Sóta Makoce sparked controversy. Since the Dakota language is not an official language of the State, and the phrase Mni Sóta Makoce is not an official phrase of the State, conservative lawmakers have come out against the change. [39] [40]

The redesign committee was directed in statute that: "Symbols, emblems, or likenesses that represent only a single community or person, regardless of whether real or stylized, may not be included in a design." [41]

During commission proceedings, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon urged committee members not to include the Dakota phrase: "since this is an item of some controversy, I would respectfully ask for a 'no' vote on this motion". Simon also urged the committee to keep the Minnesota statehood year, 1858, on the seal. The year was ultimately removed due to concerns from the Dakota community stemming from its association with broken treaties between governments of the United States and the Dakota people. The official motto is represented symbolically through the four-pointed star. [42]

Other government seals of Minnesota

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Cummings, Caroline; Staff, WCCO (2023-12-05). "Minnesota's new state seal has been chosen — and it has a loon - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  2. 1 2 3 "CHAPTER 62--H.F.No. 1830". Minnesota Legislature. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. 2023. p. 2023 Minn. Stats. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  3. ↑ McVan, Madison (5 December 2023). "Commission selects loon-centric design for new Minnesota state seal". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 Cummings, Caroline (2023-12-08). "Designer of new Minnesota state seal "honored" the commission chose his work". WCCO - CBS Minnesota. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. ↑ "Article XIII, Section 11, Minnesota Constitution". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sec. 4.034, 2023 Minnesota Statutes" . Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sec. 4.03, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sec. 4.035, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesoat Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Sec. 358.11, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sec. 14.08, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sec. 14.16, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Sec. 14.26, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sec. 14.386, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Sec. 16A.462, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sec. 629.07, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sec. 929.22, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sec. 333.21, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sec. 359.01, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Apostille Authentication". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sec. 414.09, 2023 Minn. Stats". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "About Official Documents". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ State Emblems Redesign Commission (January 1, 2024). "Selection for the New Official Flag and Great Seal for the State of Minnesota" (PDF). State of Minnesota. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "Minnesota's new state seal will feature a loon". FOX 9. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  24. ↑ "What's on the new Minnesota state seal?". WCCO News. May 10, 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  25. 1 2 3 Convery, William (2023-09-20). "Minnesota State Seal". MNOpedia. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Bierschbach, Briana (2023-11-03). "Minnesota's state seal and flag are changing. How was this controversial image created?". Star Tribune . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  27. ↑ Minnesota Historical Society. "State Seal" (PDF). Roots: Minnesota Almanac. Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Sec. 1.135 MN Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  29. ↑ "Minnesota (U.S.)". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  30. ↑ "Minnesota Statutes - 1.135 STATE SEAL". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. 1983. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  31. ↑ www.n-state.com, NSTATE, LLC. "Minnesota State Flag - About the Minnesota Flag, its adoption and history from NETSTATE.COM". www.netstate.com. Retrieved 2017-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ↑ "1.135, 2011 Minnesota Statutes". 2012-06-09. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  33. ↑ Hedin, Robert (2007). Where One Voice Ends Another Begins: 150 Years of Minnesota Poetry. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 5. ISBN   978-0-87351-584-9.
  34. ↑ Judd, Jake. "Finalists Selected for Redesigned State Flag and Seal to Eliminate Controversial Imagery". KNSI. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  35. ↑ Londoño, Ernesto (2023-12-09). "Minnesota Is Looking for a New State Flag. Residents Have a Few (Thousand) Ideas". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  36. 1 2 Callaghan, Peter (2023-06-08). "Formal effort begins to replace 'cluttered genocidal mess' on Minnesota flag". MinnPost . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  37. ↑ "HF1830". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Miinnesota Legislature. 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  38. ↑ Simon, Steve (2023-10-02). "Sec. Steve Simon Statement on Public Submissions for the State Flag and Seal". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  39. ↑ "Urdahl Opposes New Seal & Flag Designs". KLFD Radio. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  40. ↑ Murphy, Esme; Swanson, Stephen; Cummings, Caroline (2023-12-21). "Could Minnesota lawmakers change the new state flag and seal designs?". WCCO News. CBS News. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  41. ↑ "HF1830". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Miinnesota Legislature. 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  42. ↑ Long, Hank (13 December 2023). "Commission adds Dakota phrase, removes statehood date and motto from new seal". Alpha News. Retrieved 11 May 2024.

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