Two local men were arrested after burglarizing the Main Building on the Coldwater campus for about 100-pounds of copper pipe. A quick internet search estimated the price of copper at just over $3-per-pound.

In an email exchange Paul Labovitz, National Park Service superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), wrote that the earliest the buildings could be removed is spring of 2011 despite a timetable confusion in the television report on KSTP-TV, Channel 5.

“If a miracle occurred and we had a federal budget the first day of the fiscal year, we could only hope for an accelerated contracting process for demo and that would take awhile. Spring 2011 demo or late winter is our fondest dream. Glad the police are stepping up (patrols at the Coldwater site).”

Labovitz asks Coldwater supporters to “keep your eyes open over there and take license numbers and call the police if you see anything out of line.”

Since the Bureau of Mines closed in 1991 and then FEMA moved out in 1995, the buildings have been essentially abandoned, used for storage, or as bomb squad training by the Hennepin County sheriff, a palette for graffiti artists, a target for kid vandals and sometimes a homeless shelter. The Main Building has been a drug shooting gallery. Black mold and asbestos infests some buildings.

Coldwater Spring is the last natural spring in Hennepin County. The soldiers who build Fort Snelling (1820-23) camped around the spring which has been called the Birthplace of Minnesota. Coldwater furnished water to the Fort from 1820-1920.

Previous to European settlement the spring was considered sacred by Dakota, Anishinabe, Ho Chunk, Iowa, Sauk and Fox peoples who gathered for cultural and spiritual events above the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Coldwater Spring is estimated to be at least 10,000 years old.

—Susu Jeffrey

for Friends of Coldwater

See the KSTP-TV news clip at:

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1584258.shtml?cat=127

The local Twin Cities office of the National Park Service, known as MNRRA, the National Mississippi River and Recreation Area, has provided clarification on who it was within the agency who made the decision almost four years ago to reject the findings of a government consultant–which stated in an Ethnographic Study, that Coldwater Spring at the Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Campus property near Fort Snelling in Hennepin County, Minnesota, is a place of traditional cultural importance for Dakota people.

more at http://minnesotahistory.net/?p=2565

First Nations United: To ensure the prosperity of the First Nation people and to bring about unification of all tribal nations through redefining our identity and connecting with our past!

FIRE TALKS!
Fire represents power, strength, life, and sustainability. First Nation people have used this life source in their ceremonies as a way of connecting us to the creator. Our ancestors gathered around fires and discussed many important issues that effected their tribe, community, and family. This connection to fire still remains for the First Nation people of Turtle Island. First Nations United would like to invite you to participate in FIRE TALKS! This is a bi-weekly intertribal gathering to develop a dialog about reclaiming the sacred site know as “Coldwater Spring.” Bring your ideas, history, and knowledge of this sacred site. _________________________________________________________________________
Location/Logistics: Coldwater Spring is south of Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. From Hwy 55/Hiawatha, turn east (toward the Mississippi River) at 54th Street, take an immediate right (south) & follow the frontage road for a half mile past the pay parking meters, through the fence gates, & past the aqua brick building where you can park. This gathering is outside so please dress appropriate for the elements. A fire will be provided and some refreshments.

When: 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Contact Information: George spears Chi-Noodin (612) 269 -5083
Gary Spears Migizi (952) 974-3257

What is in the final environmental impact statement for the Coldwater / Bureau of Mines property near Fort Snelling in Hennepin County, Minnesota? How does it provide a basis for the Department of Interior to select Preferred Alternative D [3], including the cleanup the property by the federal government and its retention in federal hands? And how does it deal with the issues about Coldwater Spring as a place of traditional cultural importance for Dakota people?

To know the answers to those questions—and the meaning of those answers—requires context and information. One of the problems of dealing with any bureaucracy which operates in an environment of controversy has to do with the flow of information. To understand how such agencies make their decisions requires access to hidden information, buried reports, and phantom memos. Every decision has a hidden history that has to be understood before you can begin to figure out the decision. Should you choose to try to learn this context, may the force be with you.

More at www.MinnesotaHistory.net

FORWARD ON to networks, listserves, allies, people– local and beyond! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hello to those acting in solidarity with the Dakota Nation:

I’m writing to ask you for your solidarity in the struggle to return Coldwater Springs to the Dakota Nation.  Please sign the petition linked below, and post a comment on the national park website. These two – minute gestures, if widespread, will help to illustrate the power and support behind Dakota communities as they struggle to have regain this particularly sacred part of their ancestral homelands.

Background and Updates on the Coldwater situation: Coldwater springs is the most sacred place on earth to the Dakota people. It is the site of the Dakota genesis story. It is also the site of the genocidal concentration camp that followed the US – Dakota war of 1862. This land has been fenced off, polluted, scattered with abandoned buildings for many many years, under holding by the Department of the Interior : Bureau of mines. Now, finally, the bureau of mines is going to clean up and transfer the land out of their possession. The National Park Service is trying to take over the land, with interest in turning it into a tourist attraction and “historic site.” Dakota people and their allies see this as a further act of colonization within a long history of genocide and the violent domination of Dakota land, people, culture and history. If the National Park gains control of the land, the Dakota will not have access to the site on their own terms. Dakota people have been denied the ability to hold ceremony on this most sacred site since colonization, and if the Park service takes the land, this denial and colonization will be reaffirmed once again.

On February 23rd, Dakota people took over the “community” meeting set up by the Park Board to marginalize Dakota voice. There is a one-month comment period following this meeting, in which (you!) allies to Dakota people are strongly encouraged to let the NPS hear their opinions.

Here, with our voices, we can send a message to the government that the Dakota Nation stands strong with many allies. There will be future opportunities to continually show solidarity in other ways, but for now, please sign the petition below, and post a comment on the National Park Service website, linked below. On the NPS website, please make sure to mention:

– Restoration of Coldwater Springs means restoration of Dakota rights to the land
- The federal government must clean up the land before returning it to the Dakota

To sign the petition to get the site returned:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/return-coldwater-springs-to-the-dakota

File a public comment with the National Park Service:
http://www.nps.gov/MWR/sendmail.htm?o=11HS%28J%2A%2B%3AH%3BJ%3BFQV%5FZEFLHE%20%20%0A&r=/miss/parkmgmt/bomcurr.htm

Thank You!

David Martinez Presenting

Friday, March 6 @ 7pm

Celebrate the debut of Dakota Philosopher--Charles Eastman and American Indian
Thought, David Martinez's new critical study of the early Dakota author. Charles
Eastman straddled two worlds in his life and writing. The author of Indian Boyhood
was raised in the traditional way after the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War then became an Ivy
League-educated doctor, author and helped found Boy Scouts. Martinez's important
work gives context to Eastman as a founding American Indian intellectual. Martinez
will give a Q & A and sign books. 

Birchbark Books
2115 West 21st Street
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 374-4023

FORWARD ON to networks, listserves, allies, people– local and beyond! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hello to those acting in solidarity with the Dakota Nation:

I’m writing to ask you for your solidarity in the struggle to return Coldwater Springs to the Dakota Nation.  Please sign the petition linked below, and post a comment on the national park website. These two – minute gestures, if widespread, will help to illustrate the power and support behind Dakota communities as they struggle to have regain this particularly sacred part of their ancestral homelands.

Background and Updates on the Coldwater situation: Coldwater springs is the most sacred place on earth to the Dakota people. It is the site of the Dakota genesis story. It is also the site of the genocidal concentration camp that followed the US – Dakota war of 1862. This land has been fenced off, polluted, scattered with abandoned buildings for many many years, under holding by the Department of the Interior : Bureau of mines. Now, finally, the bureau of mines is going to clean up and transfer the land out of their possession. The National Park Service is trying to take over the land, with interest in turning it into a tourist attraction and “historic site.” Dakota people and their allies see this as a further act of colonization within a long history of genocide and the violent domination of Dakota land, people, culture and history. If the National Park gains control of the land, the Dakota will not have access to the site on their own terms. Dakota people have been denied the ability to hold ceremony on this most sacred site since colonization, and if the Park service takes the land, this denial and colonization will be reaffirmed once again.

On February 23rd, Dakota people took over the “community” meeting set up by the Park Board to marginalize Dakota voice. There is a one-month comment period following this meeting, in which (you!) allies to Dakota people are strongly encouraged to let the NPS hear their opinions.

Here, with our voices, we can send a message to the government that the Dakota Nation stands strong with many allies. There will be future opportunities to continually show solidarity in other ways, but for now, please sign the petition below, and post a comment on the National Park Service website, linked below. On the NPS website, please make sure to mention:

– Restoration of Coldwater Springs means restoration of Dakota rights to the land
- The federal government must clean up the land before returning it to the Dakota

To sign the petition to get the site returned:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/return-coldwater-springs-to-the-dakota

File a public comment with the National Park Service:
http://www.nps.gov/MWR/sendmail.htm?o=11HS%28J%2A%2B%3AH%3BJ%3BFQV%5FZEFLHE%20%20%0A&r=/miss/parkmgmt/bomcurr.htm

Thank You!

http://www.preservecampcoldwater.org/

“The first public meeting will be Monday, February 23, from 5-9 p.m. in the
auditorium of the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. It will focus on getting
Public comment on future reuse and restoration of the Camp Coldwater
Property (former Bureau of Mines). A second public meeting is tentatively
scheduled for April 13. A letter announcing the first meeting was sent out.

Lets pack the auditorium.

“The first public meeting will be Monday, February 23, from 5-9 p.m. in the
auditorium of the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. It will focus on getting
Public comment on future reuse and restoration of the Camp Coldwater
Property (former Bureau of Mines). A second public meeting is tentatively
Scheduled for April 13. A letter announcing the first meeting was mailed out..”

Tell everyone you know, to pack the room.

More informations coming ASAP.

Han Mitakuyapi,

I just received an email from Steven Johnson, who is one of the officials helping to organize the community meetings to decide what happens to Coldwater Springs.  They have the meeting scheduled:

“The first public meeting will be Monday, February 23, from 5-9 p.m. in the
auditorium of the VA Hospital in Minneapolis.  It will focus on getting
public comment on future reuse and restoration of the Camp Coldwater
property (former Bureau of Mines).  A second public meeting is tentatively
scheduled for April 13.  A letter announcing the first meeting is being
mailed today.”

Pack the room.  Anybody you can think of.  Get them there.

Wicanhpi Iyotan Win de miye.

Added

3:43

4 months ago alliesms

Added

1:57

4 months ago

Mitakuyepi,

To All who are interested in the current develops regarding Coldwater Spring:

Here is the letter recently sent out from The National Park Service
that we have posted on our Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition website
(www.preservecampcoldwatercoalition.org).
We also have the Coldwater Coalitions comments to the Draft EIS posted that was submitted by our attorney, Tom Casey,
if anyone is interested.

Jeanne cistinna, de miye

—–Forwarded Message—–
From: budtbum@mninter.net
Sent: Dec 4, 2008 9:11 PM
To: pccc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PCCC] NPS letter on Coldwater

National Park Service to restore land near Fort Snelling
Land near Fort Snelling includes spring
By Dennis Lien
dlien@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 12/03/2008 11:11:07 PM CST

The former federal Bureau of Mines campus near Fort Snelling should be cleared of abandoned buildings and managed by the National Park Service as part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, federal officials said Wednesday.

The 27.3-acre parcel along the Mississippi River includes Coldwater Spring, which was used as a primary water source for early soldiers and is a significant site for many American Indians.

The recommendation follows a period in which the Park Service looked into giving the property to other nonfederal agencies, colleges or universities. But none showed any interest, according to Steve Johnson, the MNRRA’s chief of resource management.

“The more we thought about it, the more logical it seemed that we could own and manage it,” Johnson said.

Once final approval is given, the property would be cleared of 11 abandoned buildings and restored to natural conditions. Johnson estimated that cost at $3 million.

The property is adjacent to Minnesota 55 and lies just south of Minnehaha Falls Regional Park and just west of the river. Bureau of Mines scientists researched an array of health and safety concerns for mine workers there until the site was closed as part of a national restructuring effort.

A key question, Johnson said, will be how to treat the spring, which still flows. Because it’s within the Fort Snelling National Historic Landmark area, authorities could choose to restore it to its presettlement state or to the more
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ornate state it was in while soldiers built and used the fort.

The Department of Interior’s “preferred alternative” could change between now and final action next year. But Johnson said the agency has effectively set its course.

Eight years ago, the Metropolitan Airports Commission voted to buy the land for $6 million but backed off after the Sept. 11 attacks. Under that scenario, most of the land would have been preserved for open space, wildlife habitat, and other scenic and recreational purposes.

Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.

Hi All,
I spoke with Steve Johnson of the National Park Service yesterday and a decision for the preferred
alternative has been made for the Bureau of Mines Property and Coldwater Spring to be owned and
managed in perpetuity by the National Park Service.  A letter will be sent out to those on their mailing
list within a week. Anyone who has moved may want to contact the National Park Service with their change
of address.  Their phone number is 651-290-3030.

In addition to what is in the article below, there will be public meetings held this winter regarding restoration
of the Site and Coldwater Spring.
That’s it for now,
Jeanne

Added

Jim Anderson seeks support for Day Four, September 4, 2008