There are Native American drummers, fry bread cooks and dancers in the Minneapolis schools for the district's annual celebration of American Indian culture. The district says Thursday is Native American Family Involvement Day, which aims to build connections to the American Indian community with hopes that it will help Native American students do better in school.
The first Native American family day was in 2006, following an agreement between the Minneapolis school board and leaders of the local Native American community. The school has events scheduled in more than a dozen schools, including drummers at Ramsey Arts, a performing arts magnet school; Indian fry bread during lunch at Longfellow elementary and a smudging ceremony at Andersen United elementary school.