Native American Minnesota

In today’s Strib: Conflict looms as Indians’ protest permit expires today.

The permit that Dakota Indians protesting in Minneapolis were given — but didn’t ask for — expires this afternoon. The two dozen or so protesters erected two teepees and a couple of modern-day tents Tuesday in a bid to reclaim land for the Dakota. But the showdown on the abandoned federal land near Minnehaha Park was put off when federal officials issued a four-day permit.

Mona Smith has 3 photo albums of the Coldwater occupation posted to her gallery. And on her Allies YouTube page she has two videos of the occupation:

Here’s the press release posted to the MINN-IND email list:

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Back in April, I blogged about the importance of Coldwater Spring and posted a photo album of the site in winter.

The photo on the left is from when I visited again in June. (Click to enlarge.)

In today’s Strib: Permit delays Dakota fight for Coldwater Spring site.

Organizers said they don’t plan to leave after the permit expires, and that’s when a confrontation could come. They said they will maintain the occupation until Dakota rights to the land are fully restored and the federal government cleans up toxic waste on the 28-acre site.

Here are the press releases that were posted to the MINN-IND email list:

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There’s an article by Rob Capriccioso in the June 6th edition of Indian Country Today titled Minnesota genocide wounds fester: 150th birthday celebration prompts protests, education efforts. It includes quotes from Waziyatawin, Tom Dahlheimer, Leonard Wabasha, and yours truly.

Griff Wigley, project leader of the commission’s Native American outreach component, said the commission has attempted ”to engage the greater citizenry of Minnesota to take a look at these things and to open their eyes.” In that effort, he’s started a blog that notes Native history and news, which is linked to from the commission’s Web site. ”There are a lot of people out there like me who are willing to have their eyes opened,” Wigley said. ”Many more things can be done that will have an impact on the education of the public.”

I saw the article in this morning’s StarTribune, Protesters decry ’shameful history’, about how a couple dozen Dakota people halted the sesquicentennial wagon train at Fort Snelling yesterday… and the plans for a march to the State Capitol today where festivities were planned to launch Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial week. 

So I drove up to Indian Mounds Park at about 10 am and took photos and video of the speeches and ceremonies there. I then followed the protestors on their march from the park to Capitol. (The Strib has posted a story tonight on their web site about today’s events at the Capitol titled Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial: Celebration, somber protest.)

 
The protest was organized by leaders of the Take Down the Fort campaign, including Waziyatawin Angela Wilson, Jim Anderson, Chris Mato Nunpa, and Denise Breton.

See the album of 75+ photos or this slideshow: