Monday, June 5, 2017

6.5.17 "Scaffold" Update



June 5, 2017  5:00 PM
"SCAFFOLD" UPDATE:

Stephanie Hope Smith (Mediator)  shared an update regarding the "Scaffold" structure that was displayed at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.

The wood has been taken off the "Scaffold" structure by Straightline Construction led by Dakota construction workers. who worked over the weekend. All of the wood has been removed, and placed in rolloff bins that will be taken off site to a safe, secure location owned by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. The rest of the deconstruction work will be completed by a local company to take out the steel and the concrete. The steel will be recycled.

The process of taking the rolloff bins off site began this afternoon and is likely to be completed by the end of the day.

The signs are taken off the fences and those who made them can request them back. (American Indian Center)

The main focus was to get the structure down.
Now the main focus will shift to what happens to the wood.
Recognizing that more people from the Dakota community wish to participate in this process and it takes time to call a meeting, there is no elder meeting this week regarding the next steps for the wood. They wish to take time, slow down and allow more voices.

Until the larger Dakota Oyate is able to meet, there will be no actions except to keep the wood stored in a safe, secure location owned by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Therefore,
1) there is no formal ceremony at Fort Snelling this week.
2) there is no formal burning of the wood from the sculpture this week.

In the end, the elders may decide that the wood should not go to Fort Snelling, The elders may decide that the wood from the sculpture should not be burned and instead should be used/disposed in some other way. Or they may choose to proceed. But this decision will be made it their way and their time at the site of their choosing.

The Dakota Oyate from Minnesota and those in exile seek an opportunity to weigh in and make decisions in an attempt to create participation first and to then build consensus.   If you are interested in being on a confidential email list for updates or if you want to be removed from this list, please send an email to Stephanie Hope Smith. ( Some emails were returned and some names were not clear). hopefulpeacemaker@gmail.com  Please also indicate if you are Dakota, interested community member, government staff, or press.