Embracing the Nordic of the North Shore
American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. (Photo by Julia Guttenfelder)
The overall culture of Minnesota connects to a broad array of ethnic backgrounds. From the indigenous Anishinaabe and Dakota people to the influx of European immigrants and more recent growth of Black, Hispanic and Asian populations, the state is becoming more and more diverse.
Still, it seems Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish traditions hold an outsized influence on what’s considered Minnesotan. Those traits — most famously the “Minnesooota” accent — took hold in the 20th century and remain prevalent.
