When the Hastings Raiders skate onto the outdoor ice during Hockey Day Minnesota on January 24, 2026, they will bring more than school spirit and sharpened skates. They will carry stories of the land itself, woven into a new jersey designed in partnership with the Prairie Island Indian Community. The uniform, unveiled November 20 at Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch, is built with cultural meaning, historical remembrance, and Dakota language tied to the area that is now called Hastings.
The jersey was designed with guidance from the Prairie Island Tribal Preservation Office, and its details reflect Dakota heritage rather than a modern interpretation. The bear silhouette behind the Hastings H and repeated on the breezers represents mato wakan, which translates to bear spirit. The meaning refers to a spiritual presence rather than a specific creature or character. The symbol is connected to Dakota stories associated with the land around present-day Lake Isabel and serves as a reminder of respect for nature, the sacredness of life, and responsibility when taking from the earth.
Across the front of the jersey is the Dakota word Owo’Bopte. Rather than being a direct translation of Hastings, this word more accurately refers to the area that is now known as Hastings. The term relates to waterways and to places where turnips were dug, reflecting a connection to land and sustenance. Its inclusion on the uniform shares the Dakota identity of the region long before the English name Hastings existed.
Color plays a meaningful role throughout the design. The traditional Dakota pattern includes directional colors with specific purposes. Red signifies north, white signifies south, yellow signifies east, and black signifies west. The blue on the jersey represents water, which also holds central importance in Dakota culture and ceremony. Around the logo are elements of a star quilt design. Star quilts are considered esteemed gifts and symbolize honor, the morning star, and resilience after hardship, particularly following the disappearance of the buffalo.
A map stretches across portions of the jersey, written in Dakota language, marking Prairie Island, Owo’Bopte, and other culturally significant places in Minnesota. Tribal Preservation officials explained during the unveiling that this feature is meant to counter the misconception that Dakota people merely passed through Minnesota. The map demonstrates a deep and long-standing relationship to the land, supported by recorded history and ancestral knowledge, and reflects the Dakota view that these places remain part of their story.
A tribute to Prairie Island veterans is also included in the uniform design, honoring military service across generations. While early prototypes featured a 38+2 marking in the collar, this tribute was removed during the final production process. The original reference would have acknowledged the 38 Dakota men executed in Mankato in 1862, as well as two leaders later executed at Fort Snelling, forming one of the most recognized historical expressions of remembrance among Dakota communities. Although it does not appear on the finished jersey, its influence remains part of the design journey and the history the uniform was intended to acknowledge.
For the Tribal Preservation Office, the jersey serves as an educational tool as much as a team uniform. The department described the project as a chance to share Dakota perspective with the broader Minnesota community. In particular, the map and Dakota place names communicate that Dakota presence in Minnesota is not a memory or a passing moment, but a continuation of community and tradition.
At the unveiling event, spectators were invited to explore the symbolism through displays and presentations. While the celebration featured hockey celebrities and community figures, the standout of the evening remained the jersey itself. The Raiders will now skate in uniforms that carry Dakota language, directional colors of cultural importance, the honor of star quilt design, and the bear spirit symbol tied to belief rather than athletics.
When the team takes the ice on January 24, they will represent their school and their city, but they will also acknowledge the land beneath the rink, the names that came before Hastings, and the Dakota people who are still here, not passed through, but home.
