- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WHITE EARTH INDIAN RESERVATION, Minn. — Longtime American Indian activist Marvin Manypenny passed away on Sunday on the White Earth Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. He was 72.
Manypenny is the father of Minnesota Lt. Governor. Peggy Flanagan, the first American Indian woman ever elected to an executive level of a state in history.
Though never elected to a tribal position, Manypenny spent decades defending land rights, defending hunting and fishing rights of American Indians.
Lt. Governor Flanagan reflected on her father to MPR News:
“My dad oftentimes would say, ‘My girl, I want to burn down the system, and you want to get into the system and change it from the inside out,’” Flanagan said. “That’s a pretty good summary of how my dad operated and how I operate.”
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Native Bidaské with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Representation and Progress
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Urge Biden to Pardon Peltier
Navajo Nation President Cleared of Sexual Harassment Allegations Made by the Nation’s Vice President
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.
No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.
