TAMA — On July 13, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Meskwaki Nation made history after unveiling the state’s first dual language road sign. Iowa will now join the seven other states that boast dual language signs.

A mile and half before the Meskwaki hotel and casino, the sign reads “Meskwakiinaki” which honors the Meskwaki heritage and settlement in Tama County.

The idea for the sign originated at the 2017 Tribal Summit, where the Minnesota DOT brought examples from the program they have with the 11 different tribal nations that reside in the state.

After the original conversation in 2017, it wasn’t until May of 2021 when the Meskwaki Nation made a formal request to the Iowa DOT for the signs.

The project continued into the summer and fall of 2021, and in June of this year the location for the sign was selected before it was finally unveiled on July 13.