R.I.P. Minnie Two Shoes, 1950-2010

Posted by Art

Apr 10

We lost another strong Indian woman this week, my good friend and colleague, Minnie Two Shoes. Minnie was a journalist and a strong presence in the Twin Cities American Indian community. She pressed me into service a few months ago to help her plan this summer’s Native American Journalists Association conference in St. Paul. She said those magic words she knew would work with me: “Come over to the Circle office. There’ll be food. Ehhhhhhh.” The first meeting I attended started with frybread from the Wolves Den (the best in town) and Minnie’s own buffalo stew and wojapi. I ate and laughed until I couldn’t see straight. She had me at frybread.

NAJA just won’t be the same without Minnie, her laugh, her energy, her wisdom, her presence. But we should all be comforted by the fact that a new generation of native reporters, writers, photographers and artists has been nurtured by her love, strength and passion for telling our stories in our own words.

I’m going to miss you like hell Minnie. Much love and safe journey to the Creator.

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Filed under: Friends

Sheila Pokiak

Hi,
I've found your page when googling Minnie. I am also very saddened to hear about Minnie's passing, We worked quite closely in Toronto 10 years ago. I am trying to find out if there is some kind of service for her, and where it would be. Would you have any idea? If you know of any service, please, contact me.
artcoulson

Sheila: I will let you know as soon as I hear anything about Minnie's services. Did you work with her at Ab Voices? We're all really going to miss her.
richpeterson

Hi, I'm Rich and I worked with Minnie at Ab Voices in TO and at the Wotanin Wowapi in Poplar, MT.
She had a great service, some great stories.
I was thinking about who to ask to have some type of tribute or memorial to Minnie at NAJA. I received a lot of phone calls from friends and former coworkers of Minnie, who couldn't make it to the services but are going to NAJA, primarily because she wanted them to.
I hope this works out, she deserves to have something there at the conference.
Anonymous

Hi, I’m Rich and I worked with Minnie at Ab Voices in TO and at the Wotanin Wowapi in Poplar, MT.rn She had a great service, some great stories.rn I was thinking about who to ask to have some type of tribute or memorial to Minnie at NAJA. I received a lot of phone calls from friends and former coworkers of Minnie, who couldn’t make it to the services but are going to NAJA, primarily because she wanted them to.rn I hope this works out, she deserves to have something there at the conference.
artcoulson

Hi, Rich. Yes, Minnie's family and the local planning committee for the NAJA conference are discussing a memorial service for Minnie during this summer's conference. NAJA just won't be the same without her. I also understand that a scholarship is being set up in Minnie's name, but I don't have any of the details on that. The NAJA office might have that info. Be well.

Art
Anonymous

Hi, Rich. Yes, Minnie’s family and the local planning committee for the NAJA conference are discussing a memorial service for Minnie during this summer’s conference. NAJA just won’t be the same without her. I also understand that a scholarship is being set up in Minnie’s name, but I don’t have any of the details on that. The NAJA office might have that info. Be well.nnArt

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