MN Supreme Court Rules On Bde Maka Ska-Lake Calhoun Dispute

MINNEAPOLIS — "Lake Calhoun" in Minneapolis will officially now be known as "Bde Maka Ska" in the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Department of Natural Resources did have the authority to change the name as it did back in January of 2018.

"Under Minnesota law, the body of water that was Lake Calhoun is now Bde Maka Ska," the court stated in its ruiling.

Lake Calhoun was named after John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina senator who became vice president in 1825. Supporters of the change want to distance the lake from Calhoun, a documented supporter of slavery.

In 1837, Calhoun gave a speech on "the positive good" of slavery. He also authored the Indian Removal Act.

Bde Maka Ska Facts

• Pronounced "b-day ma-kha skah"
• Translates to "White Earth Lake" in Dakota

Wednesday's ruling overturns Court of Appeals

The state Supreme Court's ruling overturns the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling from April of 2019. At that time, the Court of Appeals said that Tom Landwehr, the previous Department of Natural Resources commissioner, did not have the power to change the name of the lake last year.

Even after the Court of Appeals ruling last year, Minneapolis city officials referred to the lake as Bde Maka Ska with public signage.

"As president of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, I have no intention of spending any public resources honoring Vice President John C. Calhoun's blood soaked legacy of systemic violence against all our communities," Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board President Brad Bourn said at the time.

Read the Supreme Court's Wednesday ruling below: