September 14th, 2023
Friday, October 6th, Mankato’s Indigenous People’s Day Committee is hosting “Food & A Band” featuring Native blues band Bluedog, Native vendors and food trucks.
The Bluedog band is a five member blues/rock band out of Minneapolis, MN. The band’s music is influenced by life experiences of Native people. Lead signer Joni states that “Native people have experienced the blues too. For us it reflects a significant part of life for Native people and our relationship with the U.S. government in the past, present and future. All the pain we’ve endured from massacres, boarding schools, and forced removal from our homes, etc… all attempts to erase our culture and our people. We are still here. Our music celebrates life, the good and bad.”
The band has performed across the United States in support of their original recordings in locations such as: Hollywood, FL (Native American Music Awards), Milwaukee, WI (Indian Summer Music Awards), Toppenish, WA (Yakima Tribal Jam), Minneapolis, MN (Indian Summer Music Festival), The Fargo Blues Festival (2012 & 2014); and Thief River Falls, MN (Last Ride Blues Festival 2009 to 2015).
The band has fronted notable blues acts including: The Robert Cray Band, Indigenous, Los Lonely Boys, Corey Stevens, John Mayall, Kenny Neal Band, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Coco Montoya, Ana Popovic, Walter Trout, Shannon Curfman, and the Jerry Garcia Band.
This event is free and open to the public and will be 4:00pm-8:00pm at Kato Ballroom, 200 Chestnut Street, Mankato.
Indigenous artists & vendors
- SkyAnne Sickler
- Alex Ek
- Justin Ek
- Terry Krueger
- Steve Tamayo
- Samantha Jones
- Lakota Made – Megan S
- MSU AIA – Megan H
- And more!
Food trucks
- Trickster Tacos
- Zip Zap Ice Cream
Since 2018, the city of Mankato has recognized the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day. For more information, contact the committee via their Facebook page or call Megan Heutmaker at 651-491-1122.