Big Spirit was part of the Cultural Destination Booth in the Education Building at the recently wrapped up 2023 Minnesota State Fair. This was an excellent opportunity for people from all over Minnesota and beyond to discover Shanne as a cultural entrepreneur.
Shanne shared that when Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl, he pitched the idea of creating a gift basket that differed from the rest. The “basket” was a small birch bark canoe filled with foods made in Minnesota or by American Indian food vendors. This idea resulted in Big Spirit being selected as a preferred vendor during the Super Bowl that year.
Shanne’s presence, with a representation of the Super Bowl Basket, at the Cultural Destination booth during the fair attracted many people. On the first day of the fair, many fairgoers stopped by to chat with Shanne, including Lt. Governor Flanagan.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan is the state’s 50th Lieutenant Governor. She is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and currently the country’s highest-ranking American Indian elected to executive office. At the center of her work is making progress for children, working families, communities of color and Indigenous communities, and Minnesotans who have historically been underserved and underrepresented. It honored Shanne to have her spend time at the booth, even drawing the winners of the prizes he gave away.
Cultural Destinations invited Shanne to showcase his business and raise awareness about American Indian entrepreneurs, and the rich American Indian culture in Minnesota. Many thanks to them. He felt honored to show the possibilities of what Big Spirit can bring to organizations and businesses and to be one of many Minnesota companies owned by cultural entrepreneurs represented at their booth.
Please watch some highlights at the Cultural Destinations Booth at the Minnesota State Fair to see some incredible cultural entrepreneurs from around the state.
Read an opinion piece about the Cultural Destinations Booth that was featured in The Pioneer Press.