Unfolding History: Celebrating Minnesota’s Flags with Color and Meaning
- Emily Thabes
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
This Flag Day, we invite you to explore the stories behind the symbols with our free community program, Unfolding History: Significant Flags of Minnesota, on Saturday, June 14, at 10 AM at the Beltrami County History Center.
We’re especially excited to debut our new coloring book, featuring seven historic and contemporary flags connected to Beltrami County, Minnesota. Created for learners of all ages, this booklet blends fine-line artwork with “Fast Flag Facts” that explain what these flags mean, who designed them, and why they matter.
Why Do Flags Matter?
Flags are more than fabric—they’re history in motion. Whether waving above battlefields, flown from tribal headquarters, or adopted by cities and states, flags declare identity, sovereignty, memory, and values.
As vexillologist Whitney Smith wrote, “A flag carries the symbolic weight of an entire people’s history” (Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, 1975). The field of vexillology—the study of flags—helps us decode the deeper meaning behind colors, shapes, and symbols. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Vincent Noble, a North American Vexillological Association member, who will speak at 10 AM about Minnesota’s evolving flag story.
From Treaty to Territory to Today
Our coloring book spans over 160 years of history, from the Civil War–era 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment Flag to the newly adopted 2024 Minnesota State Flag. It includes the:
Red Lake Nation Flag, a sovereign emblem filled with clan animals, medicine wheel colors, and the strength of the Anishinaabe people;
White Earth Nation Flag, honoring the Treaty of 1867 and spiritual symbols like the eagle and peace pipe;
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Flag, with stars, fish, and eagle imagery reflecting deep relationships with water and cosmos;
Bemidji City Flag, which uniquely blends folklore (Paul and Babe) with eagle feathers and Ojibwe roots; and
Retired and current Minnesota state flags showcase a shift from Eurocentric imagery to a more inclusive, simplified, and locally rooted design.
Flags, especially in Indigenous and local contexts, affirm identity, presence, resistance, and continuity. As historian David Treuer wrote in The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, “Our cultures aren’t dead. We are still here—doing new things with old ways” (Treuer, 2019).
Come Color History With Us
On Saturday, families can enjoy:
Guest speaker Vincent Noble (10 AM)
All-day activities, including “Design Your Own Flag”🏁
Free copies of our flag coloring book (and crayons!)
Opportunities to learn how flags are adopted, changed, and preserved
Together, we’ll discover how a flag can tell a story—not just of a government or a region but also of the people who live, remember, and care for that place.
🎨 Free program with family activities all day!
Download the flag coloring pages here:
🖨️ Printing Tip: If you can access a printer that supports 17" x 11" paper, you can print the coloring book as a folded booklet. Use these settings:
Paper Size: Ledger | Print Style: Booklet | Orientation: Portrait | Auto-Rotate: On
We hope to see you Saturday for a day of flags, history, and hands-on fun!