Grand Meadow Township in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Grandmother Tree

C̣aŋ kiŋ de "Ḳúŋṡi C̣aŋ" c̣aṡṭuŋpi

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

1. The Grandmother Tree Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

For thousands of years, grasslands – dotted with sparsely wooded areas called "savannas" – covered southern Minnesota. Fire-resistant oak trees took hold and grasses and flowers flourished below the canopy. Large burr and white oaks provided habitat for birds and small mammals, shade for workers, and wood for digging sticks and campfire fuel.

This centuries-old "Grandmother" oak is one of two trees along the Trail named by Dakota elders. The Grandfather Tree is to the south. Trees took root among the quarry pits about 500 years ago, after people no longer came to dig for Grand Meadow Chert.

Waŋna de ṭéhaŋ Mnisota Maḳoc̣e itokaġatakiya obdaye k'a c̣úŋwaŋca "savannas" eyapi, maḳoc̣e ekta yuḳe. Utuhu c̣aŋ ideyep̣ica ṡni kiŋ hena ded taŋyaŋ ic̣aġe k'a p̣eżi k'a waḣca kiŋ utuhu c̣aŋ ḳúta taŋyaŋ ic̣aġe. Uŋskuyeca k'a utuhu ed ziŋtakadaŋ k'a wamaḳaṡkaŋ cikcistidaŋ ed ṭípi. Óhaŋzi ed ḣtanipi and

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c̣aŋ uŋ wíbopte k'a c̣aŋauŋpi káġapi.

Waŋna de ṭéhaŋn utuhu c̣aŋ kiŋ de, "Ḳúŋṡi C̣aŋ" eyapi ded yaŋke. Ehaŋna Daḳota wakaŋ kiŋ c̣aŋ núŋpa c̣aṡṭuŋpi. Uŋmag he "Uŋkaŋna C̣aŋ" eyapi k'a itokaġatakiya yaŋke. Hékta waniyetu óta héehaŋ ikce oyate kiŋ ded waŋhi k'a yuṡtaŋpi hehaŋn Hékta waniyetu opawiŋġe záptaŋ wahehaŋyaŋ c̣aŋ kiŋ dena ok'api ded ic̣aġe.

A typical oak savanna.

Red-headed woodpecker

Prairie flowers

Frequent burning restores and maintains the prairie plant community.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1500.

Location. 43° 43.718′ N, 92° 35.35′ W. Marker is near Grand Meadow, Minnesota, in Mower County. It is in Grand Meadow Township. It can be reached from 730th Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is

The Grandmother Tree and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

2. The Grandmother Tree and Marker

on the self-guided interpretive trail at the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25578 730th Avenue, Grand Meadow MN 55936, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Hardware Store/Wáḳic̣aŋye Mazoṗiye (a few steps from this marker); Making These Pits/Maḳa Ok'e Kaġapi (within shouting distance of this marker); Those Who Came Here/Ehaŋnah Tuweweka Ded Hípi? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Quarry Story/Maḳa Ook'e Wóyakapi Kiŋ Dée (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe (about 400 feet away); A Truly Grand Rock (about 500 feet away);

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The Perfect Spot (about 500 feet away); Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Meadow.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.