Spirit Island

by Theresa Ptak
18″ x 24″ – two-color linocut print

OwamniYomni is the Dakota name meaning ‘whirpool’ or ‘falling waters’ for the area currently referred to as St. Anthony Falls. Before it was industrialized, it was a nesting ground for eagles that fed on the fish below the falls, a source of tapping maple trees, and a place of trade and rest. It continues to be a sacred place of peace and cultural significance, and while the natural features of the falls have given way to human endeavors, the energy and spirit of the water is a constant source of inspiration.