City Council Meeting Date: November 17, 2020
To: Mayor & City Council
City Administrator
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Consider Resolution Adopting Land Acknowledgement Statement.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to adopt the attached resolution which includes language for a Land Acknowledgement Statement to be used by the City of Northfield.
Summary Report:
At the February 13, 2020 Human Rights Commission (HRC) meeting, the members discussed a proposed draft of a land acknowledgement statement, which was developed by a group of community members, that could be recommended to City Council for official use. A subcommittee of HRC was assigned to finish this work and make a recommendation to City Council for the March 10, 2020 City Council Meeting. The resolution provided to Council was not adopted. Council shared some language suggestions for revisions to the statement and asked for more education on this topic to help aid in their decision making process.
On August 4, 2020 the HRC provided a presentation to Council with more background and education on the topic of land acknowledgement statements. Additionally, a summary document was provided which was written by Professor Meredith McCoy from Carleton College for the Human Rights Commission, July 9, 2020 meeting. That document is also provided tonight.
The HRC met on August 13 and September 10 and continued discussion on this topic and supported the following statement:
We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute and Mdewakanton Bands of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region. We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that we have committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place.
Adoption and use of a Land Acknowledgement Statement is also happening at the colleges in Northfield. In the spring of 2020, St. Olaf College added two versions of this statement to their website for use at the college (<https://wp.stolaf.edu/about/history/>). Carleton College senior leadership has endorsed the statement from HRC and used it for the first time for its opening convocation program this September.
A community presentation was given via Zoom on September 23 to help provide background and context as well as respond to questions. Fifty-one community members participated in this program.
After receiving some additional feedback from the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer at the Lower Sioux Community, the HRC subcommittee suggested a modified version of this statement that includes of all Dakota peoples be adopted. The HRC approved this at the October 8, 2020 meeting.
The following is the statement the HRC asks the City Council to adopt in the attached resolution.
We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute and other Bands of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region. We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that we have committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place.
Alternative Options:
Based on feedback from City Councilors the Council may wish to consider the following versions for adoption:
Alternative 1 (Removes last sentence)
We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute and other Bands of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region.
Original motion: “I make a motion to approve move Alternative Number 1 for Resolution 2020-031 for Adoption of Land Acknowledgement Statement.”
Amended motion: “I make a motion to amend the Resolution to be consistent Alternative Number 1 striking ‘We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that we have committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place.’ from the statement.”
Alternative 2 (changes “we have” in third line to “have been”)
We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute and other Bands of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region. We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that have been committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place.
Original motion: “I make a motion to approve move Alternative Number 2 for Resolution 2020-031 for Adoption of Land Acknowledgement Statement.”
Amended motion: “I make a motion to amend the Resolution to be consistent Alternative Number 2 striking ‘we have’ in the third line with “have been’ from the statement.”
Financial Impacts:
Not applicable.
Tentative Timelines:
Council adoption November 17, 2020.