Mia was delighted to welcome Justice Jensvold as the 2023 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Native American Fellow. The SMSC Native American Fellowship was co-hosted in 2023 by Mia’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Division and the Curatorial Division (Department of Global Contemporary Art) and was made possible by the generous support of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The fellowship provided valuable professional experience in the museum field through a range of projects designed to enhance relevant skills, and it provided the opportunity to learn in partnership with staff from all of Mia’s divisions and departments, including Advancement, Audience, Curatorial, Registration, and Operations.
Hau Mitakuyapi Wakandi Wakan Hoksida (Sacred Lightning Boy) emakiyapi do. Justice Jensvold is from the Pejutazizi Oyate in western Minnesota. Having spent his time working with Indigenous youth on many different reservations, Justice is devoted to making Indigenous voices heard as well as understood. Prior to his arrival at Mia, Justice was an undergraduate research assistant for projects centered upon Indigenous history and art. As the 2023 SMSC Fellow at Mia, he worked in partnership with colleagues and community partners to grow his knowledge of museum practices and strengthen Mia’s relations with Native people.