Hoċokata Ti Cultural Center a finalist for National Medal for Museum and Library Service
The Hoċokata Ti Cultural Center in Shakopee, MN, was named a 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service finalist by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
IMEG provided structural design for the center, a new multi-purpose building of complex shape and form that serves the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) in Scott County, MN. The building serves as a gathering space, a public museum, and a cultural activity site.
Hoċokata Ṫi—pronounced “ho-cho-kah-tah-tee,” the Dakota term for “lodge at the center of the camp”—opened in 2019 to support the SMSC’s preservation efforts. Its mission is to interpret and encourage Mdewakanton Dakota cultural heritage, language, and history by sustaining this inherent knowledge through exhibitions, preservation, and education.
Though the project did not win the national medal, being chosen as one of the finalists from across the U.S. is a significant accomplishment.
“The 30 National Medal finalists from across the United States showcase the tremendous abilities of libraries and museums to serve as trusted, dynamic public spaces that meet the needs of their communities,” said IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is honored to recognize these outstanding institutions. We congratulate them on their collective effort to respond to community needs, preserve diverse history and culture, and create a sense of belonging for all Americans.”
