Court upholds move to restore Minnesota lake's Dakota name Friday, May 15, 2020

Indian Country Today

A divided Minnesota Supreme Court said Wednesday a state agency has the authority to change the name of a popular lake back to its original Dakota name. 

The state Court of Appeals ruled in April that the Department of Natural Resources overstepped its authority in January 2018 when it restored the name Bde Maka Ska. It said authority to change the name of Lake Calhoun rested with the Legislature under statutes governing lake and other place names.

Justice David Lillehaug, writing for the majority of five justices, said the Department of Natural Resources commissioner has the statutory authority to change the name. 

Read more at: https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/court-upholds-move-to-restore-minnesota-lake-s-dakota-name-AQIPDRz8KUOA3XeI8RS6AQ

Read the court's opinion at: http://mncourts.gov/mncourtsgov/media/Appellate/Supreme%20Court/Standard%20Opinions/OPA181007-051320.pdf