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 [...]]]> 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:

Reclaim Camp Coldwater! Support the B’Dote Defenders!

Please Forward Widely:

On Tuesday September 2nd, Members of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) of the Dakota Oyate reoccupied Coldwater Spring and the surrounding land. The Coldwater Spring site is an abandoned property of the defunct Bureau of Mines. As Dakota people who consider the spring as essential to our spiritual lifeway and the surrounding land as a part of our homeland of Bdote, we believe that we will be better stewards of the land than either the United States or the State of Minnesota has been. This is evidenced in the fact that the site is littered with dilapidated structures and the soil is polluted from the former Bureau of Mines.

We launched the reclamation of this sacred site with four days of ceremonies to celebrate the seasonal transition from summer to fall. While we did not ask for a permit for the four days, the property manager Robert Hanson has given us one. Despite our permit and the ceremonies that are happening on site, we have experienced heavy surveillance by Homeland Security, Hennepin County Sheriffs, and riot-police from various police agencies.

The four-day permit is due to expire tomorrow, September 5th at 3:00 pm. We will be holding a press conference on September 5th at 2:00 pm at Coldwater Spring. We invite all people to come at this time and show support for the Dakota people and our rights to both land and life.

As Dakota people, we have both a legal and a moral right to the spring and the surrounding land. We are calling on the Department of the Interior to fully restore Dakota rights to the land and to conduct a clean-up of the site, including removing dilapidated structures and restoring the land to its previously pristine condition.

We intend to make use of the site as was meant for Dakota and other Native Nations. We intend to conduct ceremonies as have been previously done at this sacred site. We intend to establish a youth camp and a space for cultural teaching, including transmission of the Dakota language. And we intend to establish gardens to distribute traditional foods to our elders once a clean-up of the site has occurred.

Directions to Camp Coldwater: From Highway 55, turn east at 54th Street and then turn right (south) on the frontage road. Proceed one block to the Bureau of Mines front gate. Go through the gate and continue heading south one more block.

For further information, contact Jim Anderson (612-910-0730), Chris Mato Nunpa (320-981-0206), or Waziyatawin (320-444-5643).

For information on support and supplies, contact Diane Elliott (651-983-6363)

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 [...]]]> 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:

CAMP COLDWATER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA—On Tuesday, September 2, members of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) of the Dakota Oyate are reclaiming Coldwater Spring and the surrounding land.  As the Original People of Minisota Makoce (Land Where the Waters Reflect the Skies), Dakota people are claiming their inherent right to their sacred sites as well as the rights preserved in the Treaty of 1805.

According to the original treaty that Zebulon Pike negotiated with the Dakota in 1805, “The United States promise on their part to permit the Sioux the pass, repass, hunt or make other uses of the said districts, as they have formerly done, without any other exception, but those specified in article first.”  The “Sioux Nation,” (including the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Peoples) thus maintain these rights in the ceded territory, which includes the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, covering an estimated 155,000 acres.  Yet, the United States government did not fulfill even the meager terms of the treaty, a payment of approximately a penny an acre, to the Dakota people.  This calls into the question the legitimacy of the United States government and the State of Minnesota to occupy this land base.

Dakota people will launch the reclamation of Coldwater Spring with four days of ceremonies.  They then plan to maintain an occupation of the site until Dakota rights to the land are fully restored and the federal government conducts a clean-up of the site, removing the toxic structures and restoring the land its previously pristine condition.

For further information, contact Jim Anderson (612-910-0730), Chris Mato Nunpa (320-981-0206), or Waziyatawin (320-444-5643).

====

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE:

Members of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) of the Dakota Oyate have reoccupied Coldwater Spring and the surrounding land. We are launching the reclamation of this sacred site within our homeland of Bdote with four days of ceremonies.  We plan to maintain an occupation of the site until Dakota rights to the land are fully restored and the federal government conducts a clean-up of the site, removing the toxic structures and restoring the land its previously pristine condition.

The Coldwater Spring site is an abandoned property of the defunct Bureau of Mines. As Dakota people who consider the spring to contain the water spirit Unktehi, consider the spring and surrounding land as essential to our spiritual lifeway, and consider the land within our homeland of Bdote we believe that we will be better stewards of the land than either the United States or the State of Minnesota has been. This is evidenced in the fact that the site is littered with toxic structures and the soil is polluted from the former Bureau of Mines.

Our intention is to make use of the site as was meant for Dakota and other Native Nations. We intend to conduct ceremonies as have been previously done. We also intend to establish a space for cultural teachings to be transmitted, including the Dakota language. And we hope to establish traditional gardens and a youth camp once the federal government conducts a clean-up of the site.

- We are requesting assistance from Native Warriors and Veterens to maintain the occupation.

-We are calling on support from our Native youth to help out with security.

- We are requesting assistance from Drum Groups.

- We are requesting a show of solidarity from supporters at the site on Tusday 9/2, at 2:30 pm

- We are requesting supplies including: dry foods, walkie-talkies, batteries, firewood, toilet paper, hardware/tools, medicines, tobacco, sage, cedar, sweetgrass, money, volunteers, support

For further information, contact Jim Anderson (612-910-0730), Chris Mato Nunpa (320-981-0206), or Waziyatawin (320-444-5643).

For information on support and supplies, contact Diane Elliott (651-983-6363)

Griff Wigley, project leader of the commission’s Native American outreach component, said the commission has attempted ”to [...]]]>
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.”

So I [...]]]>
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: