The Minnehaha Tragedy

Note: The Minnehaha incident began in December of 1998 but it is still going on today.. This tragedy not only affects all Native Americans but everyone who lives in this great nation.. Please read this page and pray not only for the destruction and violence to stop but also for the continuation of the peaceful way of life of this great people... It would also be a tremendous help if you would forward this page to everyone you know... There is a link at the end of this story that gives updates and also tells what has transpired from December 1998 until now... Minnehaha Spiritual Camp Receives Warning of Imminent Raid Yesterday.. Thursday, the Minnehaha Spiritual Camp was visited by Captain Kitridge of the Minnesota State Highway Patrol and Lieutenant Bud Emerson of the Third Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department. Lieutenant Emerson commanded the raid last December 20th in which 802 troopers and police teargassed and tortured non-violent people and desecrated sacred items including eagle feathers and a ceremonial drum. Kitridge and Emerson had a ceremony within the Four Sacred Oaks with Jim Anderson and members of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community and the American Indian Movement in which they were offered to smoke the pipe. After they were told that this was not a peace pipe, but a truth pipe, Kitridge smoked and Emerson declined. They both agreed that while they might be enforcing the law, that it was morally and ethically reprehensible to destroy a site sacred to Native Americans. They assured Jim Anderson that the raid would be soon, sometime in the next 2 to 3 weeks, that it would be in the morning and that there would be no tear gas or pain compliance holds used. They gave their word that people would be offered the chance to leave before being arrested for trespassing. They said that the machines of destruction would follow immediately after the arrests, and that the University of Minnesota has requested a oak slab from each tree. They said that they would try and respect the sacred items and make certain that eagle feathers and other items would be returned. Emerson made the same promise of allowing people to leave before the last raid in December of 1998. WE NEED YOU NOW. WE NEED YOU TO COME AND CAMP WITH US FOR SOME OR ALL OF THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. IF THIS WERE YOUR CHURCH YOU WOULD STAND HERE TOO? PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DESECRATE AND BULLDOZE ANOTHER NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED SITE. WE ARE ASKING ALL PEOPLE TO STAND WITH US IN PRAYER AROUND THE FOUR SACRED OAKS, AND SACRED FIRE, TO STAND IN PRAYER AND TO BE ARRESTED IN PRAYER. WHEN THEY COME, WE WILL CIRCLE THE OAKS WITH OUR BODIES. WE WANT THEM TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL NOT LET THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION OF NATIVE AMERICANS BE VIOLATED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF COMMUTERS. NOW IS THE TIME TO DECIDE AND STAND WITH US. OUR CAMP IS DRUG FREE, ALCOHOL FREE, WEAPONS FREE. WE ARE NON-VIOLENT, AND EXPECT THAT FROM ANYONE WHO COMES TO STAND HERE WITH US. The day after the raid is announced in the papers, we are asking people to gather at the Ennepin County Government Center by the fountain at 4:00pm, in downtown Minneapolis. Please contact Wellstone's office, and the Justice Department to demand that the Federal Government intervene to stop the desecration of a Native American Sacred Site. for the future generations, for the sacred trees, sacred water and burial sites of our ancestors. They will never crush our spirits or pave over our prayers. Pidamaya, Jim Anderson Cultural Chairman of the Mendota Medewakanton Dakota Community: (612) 910-0730 Camp Cell Phone: (651) 398-5249 For Recent Updates And Past Reports Regarding The Minnehaha Tragedy, Please Click Here To Express Your Feelings About This Terrible Tragedy, Please Sign The GuestBook Below.. This Guestbook Is Only Being Used For Your Comments Concerning This Page Only.. Thank You... Bars Courtesy Of Draac's Gifs Wounded Warrior Picture Used In The Background Is Believed To Be Public Domain... It Was Made Into A Background By Wolfden... Elder Native American Picture Is Also Believed To Be Public Domain.. It Was Modified For This Page By Wolfden... If Either These Pictures Are Copyrighted, Please Notify Wolfden Of This Fact... Thank You... [MY AWARDS] [MY SPIRIT FLOWER GARDEN] [NATURE WALKS] [MY FAVORITE SITES] [NATIVE AMERICAN LINKS AND IMAGES] [FRIENDS] [FAVORITE MIDI MUSIC] [BIRDS] [CHIEF SEATTLE'S SPEECH] [WEB RINGS] [NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN] [THE MINNEHAHA TRAGEDY] [WOLVES] [HOME]