Key Points
Minnesota has unveiled a new state flag to replace a design that had long been criticized for its perceived offensiveness to Native Americans..
The proposed flag, featuring a white eight-pointed star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, was revealed on Tuesday by the State Emblems Redesign Commission...
The design, created by 24-year-old Minnesotan artist Andrew Prekker, serves as an ode to the state's motto, "Star of the North," with the light blue symbolizing Minnesota's abundant waters...
Notably, the current state flag, dating back to 1957, had faced controversy due to its depiction of a horse-mounted Native American moving away from a farmer with a plough and a rifle, which some argue alludes to the displacement of Native Americans in Minnesota...
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon addressed concerns about similarities, drawing parallels with other states like Iowa and Texas, which share design elements with flags from France and Chile, respectively..
