Minnesota Has New State Flag

Less than a month ago, on December 19 2023, Minnesota chose a new flag. The flag (which is featured above) has dark and light shades of blue and has the north star on it. Minnesota has been accepting submissions for new flag designs and recently narrowed them down to six flags pictured below. There are a few reasons for this, one being that Minnesota’s seal, which is on the center of our current flag, controversially depicts Native Americans.

The new Minnesota flag, which is based on the flag bordered in red, has two shades of blue, one dark and one light. The dark blue represents the shape of Minnesota, while the light blue represents Minnesota’s water. In the center of the dark blue shape is the north star, which was the only common symbol between the six finalists.

The old Minnesota seal (which was also changed), was at the center of both the old flag and arguments. It was, and still is, considered racist by many people. It features a white man, hard at work plowing fields. In the background, there is a Native American, who is on a horse holding a spear, riding away. The seal used to feature a Native American fleeing west, but Minnesota changed it in 1983. Although many people believe that the seal represents “manifest destiny” which was an idea that white settlers were supposed to settle all of North America, the office of the Minnesota Secretary of State says the Native American represents the “great American Indian heritage” of Minnesota.

Another reason Minnesota might want to change its flag is because it needs more uniqueness. Look at the picture below. Can you identify which flag was Minnesota’s flag, compared to many other state flags? Probably not. Minnesota’s old flag was very similar to many other state flags (a dark blue background with its seal plastered on), and choosing a new one could set it apart from many other states.

There were many submissions for flags, ranging from changes in the seal alone (such as replacing the scene with a hot dish), to completely new designs. Some were hand-drawn and some were made digitally. Adults made some, students made others. Even Blake students submitted designs. There were many interesting designs. One included a giant mosquito, while another had a loon with laser eyes. Over 2,600 were submitted. Finally, after months of submissions, Minnesota narrowed it down to six flags, all featured below. A month ago, Minnesota cut out half of the designs. All submissions are available to see at serc.mnhs.org/flags.

The new seal, which fewer people care about, has a loon, pine trees, a north star, prairie grass, and no humans. It also says “Mni Sóta Makoce”, which is Dakota for “Minnesota” and means “where the water meets the sky”.

Minnesotans care a lot about their flag. People have strong opinions about it, and not everyone is happy with the new design. It will become official on May 11, which is when Minnesota became a state.

Answers: Which Flag is Minnesota’s: Above lower left flag