A state panel says Minnesota’s new state flag should feature an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field at the right.

Minnesota’s new state flag should feature an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field at the right, a special commission decided Tuesday as it picked a replacement for an older design that many Native Americans considered offensive.

The State Emblems Redesign Commission chose the final version on an 11-1 vote after finalizing a new state seal that depicts a loon, the state bird. Unless the Legislature rejects them, the new flag and seal will automatically become official April 1, 2024, when Minnesota observes Statehood Day.

The star echoes Minnesota’s state motto of “Star of the North.” The commission’s chairman, Luis Fitch, said that to him, the light blue represents the Mississippi River, “the most important river in the United States,” pointing to the North Star. But he acknowledged it could mean other things to other people. Symmetry and simplicity won out over other versions, including ones that included a green stripe for the state’s agricultural heritage.

    • Ranvier@sopuli.xyz
      7·
      11 个月前

      I have fantastic news for you, looks like the one I posted was revised slightly before approval. It’s got the red eye now!

      • kase@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 个月前

        They changed the words too! Idk what they mean though, the old words or the new words

        • Ranvier@sopuli.xyz
          2·
          11 个月前

          Old words are the state motto which is in French, star of the north. New words are the Dakota name for the Minnesota river, from which the state derives its name. Some controversy over which barely visible words to go with. Both seem fine to me, I just want that red loon eye.