ST. PAUL, Minn (January 17, 2024) – A piece of hockey history is now part of the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. MNHS purchased a goalie mask designed by Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor and worn by Marc-André Fleury during warmups of the Minnesota Wild’s Native American Heritage Night in November 2023.
Wild goaltender Marc-André Fleury wore the mask to honor his wife, Véronique Larosee Fleury, who is an Indigenous person of Canada. MNHS purchased the mask at auction for $35,100, with the money raised supporting the Minnesota Wild Foundation and the American Indian Family Center.
“This mask is at the intersection of contemporary Native arts, sports memorabilia, and current discourses on the tension between sports and politics,” said Angelica Maier, curator of 3D objects at MNHS. “Bringing the mask into the MNHS collections will further our ongoing effort to bring forward, tell, and preserve Minnesota’s stories.”
Cole Redhorse Taylor served as a Native American-Artist-in-Residence (NAAIR) from 2018-2020. The nationally renowned program, run by MNHS’s Native American Initiatives Department, engages with Native people and nations throughout the state, ensuring Native voices, stories, and histories are addressed in MNHS’s work.
“Cole is a valued partner of the work that we do with Native American Initiatives and across MNHS,” said Dr. Amber Annis, director of Native American Initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society. “This contemporary piece is representative of the unique histories here within Minnesota and the importance of representation of Dakota art, language, stories, sports, and how they connect to Minnesota history.”
A team from MNHS met with Marc-André Fleury to accept the mask and a signed Native American Heritage jersey Wednesday, January 17th. Please contact Allison Ortiz at allison.ortiz@mnhs.org or 651-259-3051 with any questions.
About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.