Dayton's Bluff in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Wic̣oḣ'aŋ

Rooted in Tradition

Photographed by McGhiever, June 13, 2026

1. Wic̣oḣ'aŋ Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Daḳota ekta Wóżupi wig he táku tóna uŋkożup cée k'a Wayuksapi wig he táku tóna msu'ysŋp cée ye/do.

The month of May is the Planting Moon, while the month of September is the Harvest Moon.

Seth Eastman, Guarding the Corn Fields, 1849-55. Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Hékta ehaŋna wíŋyaŋ waḳaŋ waŋ bde c̣ete ta ṭig he wamnageza Daḳota uŋkiyepi uŋk'upi. Maḳobaṡpe Iowa eyapce héc̣iya bde waŋ Mni Waḳaŋ eyapi ekta ec̣etu kéyapi. Wíŋyaŋ k'uŋ he mamnaheza oẓupi uŋspeuŋḳiyapi k'a nakuŋ wamnaheza su kiŋ awayaŋkapi uŋspeuŋḳiyapi kéyapi. Héhaŋn wamnaheza wóec̣uŋ k'a wótapi uŋhapi. Héc̣ed wóp̣ida uŋkaġap cée ye/do.

Ehaŋna wakpa k'a wakpadaŋ iḳiyedaŋ wic̣oṭi uŋkiṭawapi ed wamnaheza, wamnu, wamnu ṭaŋka, c̣aŋdi k'a nakuŋ waṭoṭo amaranth k'a lamb's quarters eyapi kiŋ hena ic̣aḣyapi. Nakuŋ ṭíŋta ekta ehaŋna Daḳota kiŋ hena wamnaheza, wamnu k'a omnica ic̣aḣyapi. Dena waṭoṭo "Three Sisters" uŋkeyapi k'a waḣcazi ḳouŋyaŋpi he uŋ "Four Sisters" uŋkeyapi cée.

Long ago, wamnaheza (corn) was given to our Daḳota people by a sacred woman who lives at the bottom of the lake. This happened at what is now called Spirit Lake in present day Iowa. She taught us how to plant the corn and care for the seeds. To give thanks, each year we hold the Green Corn ceremony and feast.

Along with corn, in our villages and along the banks of rivers and streams, Daḳota ancestors grew squash and pumpkins,

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tobacco, and greens like amaranth and lamb's quarter while Daḳota relatives on the prairie grew crown, squash, and beans. We call these plant relatives the Three Sisters and together with sunflowers, they are the Four Sisters.

"Four Sisters" héc̣ed c̣aṡuŋṭuŋpi ic̣iŋṡ tohaŋn kawitaya ożupi c̣a sutaya ic̣aġapi cée ye/do.

They are named the Four Sisters because they grow strong when planted together.

Wamnaheza
Corn

Waḣcazi
Sunflower

Omnica
Beans

Wamnu
Squash

Erected by Waḳaŋ Ṭípi Awaŋyaŋkapi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 44° 57.142′ N, 93° 4.453′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Dayton's Bluff. It is at the intersection of Commercial Street and 4th Street E. on Commercial Street. The marker is next to the Waḳaŋ Ṭípi Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 590 4th Street

Wic̣oḣ'aŋ Marker (center background) in front of the Waḳaŋ Ṭípi Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 13, 2026

2. Wic̣oḣ'aŋ Marker (center background) in front of the Waḳaŋ Ṭípi Center

E, Saint Paul MN 55106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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: Maḳoc̣e Ṭueŋḣiŋdapi (here, next to this marker); Waḳaŋ Ṭípi (a few steps from this marker); Preserving history on the land (within shouting distance of this marker); Nature and history in the Phalen Creek valley (within shouting distance of this marker); Remnants of a Former Rail Yard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Northern Pacific Railway Warehouse (approx. half a mile away); Marty Scott (approx. half a mile away); Terry L. Wetzel (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.

Other markers no

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longer nearby. A time of environmental and cultural change (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Dakota life along Wakpa Tanka (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 2, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.