Kate Beane TED Talk: The lasting legacy of place names

Public historian Kate Beane, her twin sister Carly Bad Heart Bull, and their father Syd Beane played a central role in restoring the name Bde Maka Ska (White Earth Lake) to Lake Calhoun. They and others who supported this work spent years to restore the name, and they met resistance from some sectors of the community. They persevered and eventually succeeded.

Kate Beane gave a TED Talk in Minneapolis in May titled: The Lasting Legacy of Place Names, in which she describes why this work was so important to her, her family and future generations.

Here’s more background from a 2018 City Pages article: Kate Beane and Carly Bad Heart Bull: The Storytellers.

 

Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3 on Sept. 28 in Duluth

Save the Date: On Saturday, September 28, a coalition of groups opposed to the Enbridge Line 3 Tar Sands Pipeline will be gathering on the shores of Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior) in Duluth to stand against this dangerous and unnecessary project and make our voices heard. We will gather at Gitchi-ode’ Akiing at Lake Place Park, 214 East Superior Street from noon to 6 p.m.

Here’s the Facebook Page. Spread the word!

Minnesota needs state leaders to get off the fence and show courage and leadership to stop Line 3

Minnesota’s top political leaders — Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and U.S. senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith — have failed to take a stand and show leadership opposing the proposed Enbridge Line 3 crude oil pipeline, a dangerous and unnecessary project.

Mendota Mdewakanton Pow Wow Sept. 13-15, all welcome, volunteers needed

The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community is holding its 20th annual Wacipi, or traditional Pow Wow, from Friday Sept. 13 to Sunday, Sept. 15 at the grounds of St. Peter’s Catholic Church,  1405 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota. Here is a flyer with the details.

You are invited to come and learn about Dakota culture. Organizers also are looking for volunteer help.

Upcoming Events: Standing with Mauna Kea; Kinship flag making; Dakota Sacred Site Tours; Fond du Lac firewood fundraiser

In this blog:

• Local First Nations People Stand with Mauna Kea protest, Sunday
  
• Kinship Flag Making, a free and fun family event, Monday
• Upcoming Dakota Sacred Site Tours Aug. 18 and Sept. 29
• Fond du Lac firewood fundraiser

Events: Indian Mounds Park Listening Session; Conversation on Inyan Sa (the Sacred Red Rock); and more

In this blog:

• Indian Mounds Listening Session tonight!
• Dakota elders to lead conversation on Inyan Sa (the sacred Red Rock) Saturday, 10 a.,m.-3 p.m.
• The Dakota Project, a reading of a play, Saturday, Aug. 3, noon
• Owámni Falling Water Festival, Saturday, Aug. 3, 1-5 p.m.

Enbridge admits Line 3 construction can’t meet all state environmental standards for protecting water

So why is the project still under consideration?

The proposed Enbridge Line 3 crude oil pipeline will run 340 miles through northern Minnesota, crossing more than 200 water bodies and 75 miles of wetlands. It also threatens wild rice areas important to the Anishinaabe.

Stunningly, Enbridge already has admitted to state regulators that pipeline construction won’t meet state environmental standards for protecting water. Adding to the problem, Enbridge hasn’t provided details about which environmental standards it plans to disregard or where. Instead, Enbridge has provided generalities which essentially boil down to: “Trust us.”

Sadly, the “Trust Us” argument appears to have traction among state regulators, another example of the power imbalance favoring industry in the state’s regulatory system. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) seemed to have ample trust in Enbridge, approving the project last year over many objections. For instance, it ignored Anishinaabe bands’ claims to treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather on lands and waters threatened by Line 3.