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.
"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.
