Action Opportunity: Fundraiser to Elevate Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Mysti Babineau testifies for the bill earlier this year. Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein sits to her right.

The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill this year to create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) Task Force, an important step and yet a baby step to address the abuse and disappearance of indigenous women and girls.

Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL_New Brighton) carried the bill for the past two years, and citizen advocate Mysti Babineau of Red Lake provided a lot of energy to get it passed. The Task Force will collect data and “dig into the underlying factors and systemic causes that explain why higher levels of violence occur against Native American women,” MPR reported.

Babineau has started a GoFundMe page to make sure this issue continues to get the attention it deserves.

It says:

There is a group of individuals who are planning an event to celebrate the passage of this historic legislation and honor those whose names we hold in our hearts.

We would like to collect stories to make sure the task force hears them. We would like supportive service groups/organizations on site to talk to the community. We would like to create a 100 foot by 40 foot quilted red dress compromised of squares created on site at the event by family members and loved ones of a missing relative.

Please donate as you are able!

Updates on Challenges to Enbridge Line 3 and Keystone XL; New North Dakota Pipeline Proposed

In this blog:

• The Progressive Magazine: The Battle Against Line 3: It’s not only a pipeline, it’s the future of the planet
• Trump’s effort to end-run court challenges to Keystone XL facing more court challenges
• Phillips 66 and Bridger Pipeline propose new pipeline through North Dakota
• Line 3 opponents rally at Sen. Klobuchar’s office to get her to take a stand against the pipeline

Duluth renames park in Ojibwe; Enbridge’s role in Line 3 front group exposed, and other updates

In this post:

• Duluth renames a city park in the Ojibwe language while opposition to restoring the name Bde Maka Ska continues in Minneapolis
• Enbridge’s role in Line 3 front group exposed
• Trump administration trying to crack down on pipeline protesters; protests continue in northern Minnesota
• Winona LaDuke’s excellent Op/Ed on Enbridge Line 3

Talk and Reception for HMS’ ‘Challenging Public Art’ Exhibit Sunday at Noon

“Challenging Public Art” will run through une 30.

Healing Minnesota Stories is having a talk and reception for its traveling art exhibit “Challenging Public Art” this Sunday, noon – 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society, 900 Mt Curve Ave, Minneapolis.

The exhibit highlights racist art in public spaces and offers alternative student art as one path forward.

Jim Bear Jacobs, Healing Minnesota Stories founder and Director of Racial Justice for the Minnesota Council of Churches, will speak on the exhibit. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments served. Please join us if you can.

The exhibit will stay through June 30. Please contact scottrussell@usfamily.net if you are interested in hosting a showing.

Gov. Walz Executive Order Affirms Government-to-Government Relationship with Native Nations

Gov Tim Walz

Enbridge Line 3 could provide order’s first significant test

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan met with leaders of Minnesota’s Native nations Monday in Morton, Minn. and held a ceremonial signing of an Executive Order that recognizes and supports “the unique status of the Minnesota Tribal Nations and their right to existence, self-govern, and possess self-determination.”

The order officially went into effect on April 5. According to a media release from the Governor’s office issued at that time, “the order applies to all state agencies and was made in consultation with both agencies and tribal governments as it was written.”

“This order ensures the State of Minnesota and the eleven tribes engage in true government-to-government relationships built on respect, understanding, and sovereignty,” said Governor Walz. “We are committed to meaningful consultation with the tribal communities in our state.” (Emphasis in original.)

Canada’s MMIW Report: State ‘Committed and Condoned’ Genocide of Indigenous Women and Girls

The Canadian government issued its final report on missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW) on Monday and the executive summary concludes that:

As the evidence demonstrates, human rights and indigenous rights abuses and violations committed and condoned by the Canadian state represent genocide against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) people. These abuses and violations have resulted in the denial of safety, security, and human dignity.

Spotlight on Indigenous Art and Artists: News and Upcoming Events

In this post, we highlight news and events around Indigenous art, artists and storytellers. Included are:

• June 2 – August 18: “Hearts of Our People,” the Minneapolis Institute of Arts new exhibit of Native women artists
• Saturday, June 8: Celebratee new public art and gathering space on Bde Maka Ska’s southeast shore
• Tuesday, June 11: Čhaŋyáta uŋyákuŋpi – We exist in the woods, an event at Roberts Bird Sanctuary
  
• Thursday, June 13: “ART IS…Creative Native Resilience”
• Angela Two Stars appointed new director of All My Relations Gallery