'What we want first and foremost is the city to not demolish the building'

Marisa Miakonda Cummings said, “We have suffered. We suffer from the effects of institutional and generational trauma and we live in this every day. Some times it feels like we are being left again to die…. This is the definition of institutional genocide.” She said they are standing up “because it is the right thing to do.” “We’re not asking for anything outside of basic human rights.” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Jolene Jones let people know that no outside agency is evaluating the pollution at the Smith Foundry. They do their own standard checks. “In the summertime when you’re standing outside and that big black cloud goes by and you can’t breathe and your kids can’t breathe and you go inside. They tell you that it’s nothing, that the Smith Foundry monitors their own [expletive].” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Rachel Thunder details the experience she had at the Roof Depot occupation on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and the experience of police surrounding the site, blocking off all nearby roads, and arresting her along with seven others. “We are standing together united and in solidarity to say we do not want the city to demolish the Roof Depot. We want to have control of the site to have an environmentally-friendly food center to feed our people and boost our economy,” stated Thunder during a press conference on Feb. 22. She said she was injured in the knee when an officer kneed her to get into a squad car. “They dropped us off in the street outside of the Homeless Bound shelter instead of downtown -quote - “to control the optics,” she said. They were not read their rights or given paperwork, but charged with misdemeanor trespassing, according to Thunder. “The command came directly from Mayor Frey’s office…. The Minneapolis Police Department stated that they will not show up for non-violent crimes. So, I ask the city and I ask the police department, what part of this was violent? This was a prayerful ceremony from our people, for the land, and for our community.” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Aurora Pass

Rachel Thunder details the experience she had at the Roof Depot occupation on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and the experience of police surrounding the site, blocking off all nearby roads, and arresting her along with seven others. “We are standing together united and in solidarity to say we do not want the city to demolish the Roof Depot. We want to have control of the site to have an environmentally-friendly food center to feed our people and boost our economy,” stated Thunder during a press conference on Feb. 22. She said she was injured in the knee when an officer kneed her to get into a squad car. “They dropped us off in the street outside of the Homeless Bound shelter instead of downtown -quote - “to control the optics,” she said. They were not read their rights or given paperwork, but charged with misdemeanor trespassing, according to Thunder. “The command came directly from Mayor Frey’s office…. The Minneapolis Police Department stated that they will not show up for non-violent crimes. So, I ask the city and I ask the police department, what part of this was violent? This was a prayerful ceremony from our people, for the land, and for our community.” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Jolene Jones let people know that no outside agency is evaluating the pollution at the Smith Foundry. They do their own standard checks. “In the summertime when you’re standing outside and that big black cloud goes by and you can’t breathe and your kids can’t breathe and you go inside. They tell you that it’s nothing, that the Smith Foundry monitors their own [expletive].” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

The Roof Depot is the heart of the Green Zone,” observed Robert Lilligren, who is a third generation urban Indian, 36-year Phillips resident, White Earth member, and former city council member. He stated that he was part of the robust citizen input that resulted in the plan for the East Phillip Indoor Urban Farm, beginning in 2015. “The city has never really been interested in the plan,” said Lilligren during a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. “The city says things like trust and reconciliation are important. Putting them into action is required. Here is an opportunity to put those beliefs into action in an more environmentally-friendly, community-drive way.” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Marisa Miakonda Cummings said, “We have suffered. We suffer from the effects of institutional and generational trauma and we live in this every day. Some times it feels like we are being left again to die…. This is the definition of institutional genocide.” She said they are standing up “because it is the right thing to do.” “We’re not asking for anything outside of basic human rights.” (Photo by Aurora Pass)

Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center President/CEO Marisa Miakonda Cummings reads a letter on behalf of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) on Tuesday, Feb. 22. “MUID formally denounces the militaristic actions taken by the Minneapolis Police Department on the evening of Feb. 21, 2023, to dismantle a peaceful and ceremonial occupation of the Roof Depot site.”… “Our membership believes that such community-led civic actions are are directly protected by the United States Constitution Bill of Rights regarding the right to peaceful assembly and the right for citizens to petition their government.” MUID collectively opposes the Hiawatha Expansion Project. (Photo by Aurora Pass)

A peaceful occupation that began at dawn on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 was broken up by city police officers at dark later that day. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Cassandra Holmes (left), Joe Vital and Rachel Thunder speak at a press conference held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center by Indigenous tribal members opposed to the demolition of the Roof Depot site for the city's public works site expansion. The 7.5-acre property is owned by the city, but the community's vision for the site includes an indoor urban farm. They were working to purchase the property in 2015 when the city threatened eminent domain and purchased it at a higher cost. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center President/CEO Marisa Miakonda Cummings reads a letter on behalf of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) on Tuesday, Feb. 22. “MUID formally denounces the militaristic actions taken by the Minneapolis Police Department on the evening of Feb. 21, 2023, to dismantle a peaceful and ceremonial occupation of the Roof Depot site.”… “Our membership believes that such community-led civic actions are are directly protected by the United States Constitution Bill of Rights regarding the right to peaceful assembly and the right for citizens to petition their government.” MUID collectively opposes the Hiawatha Expansion Project. Read the entire letter in the images.

While Indigenous people held a press conference at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center on Feb. 22, 2023 to talk about the militarized removal of Indigenous protestors at the Roof Depot site last night, taller fencing was being installed at the site as snow fell. “The community is tired of being a sacrificial zone,” said Little Earth resident Cassie Holmes.

Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center President/CEO Marisa Miakonda Cummings reads a letter on behalf of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) on Tuesday, Feb. 22. “MUID formally denounces the militaristic actions taken by the Minneapolis Police Department on the evening of Feb. 21, 2023, to dismantle a peaceful and ceremonial occupation of the Roof Depot site.”… “Our membership believes that such community-led civic actions are are directly protected by the United States Constitution Bill of Rights regarding the right to peaceful assembly and the right for citizens to petition their government.” MUID collectively opposes the Hiawatha Expansion Project. Read the entire letter in the images.

The Roof Depot is the heart of the Green Zone,” observed Robert Lilligren, who is a third generation urban Indian, 36-year Phillips resident, White Earth member, and former city council member. He stated that he was part of the robust citizen input that resulted in the plan for the East Phillip Indoor Urban Farm, beginning in 2015. “The city has never really been interested in the plan,” said Lilligren during a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. “The city says things like trust and reconciliation are important. Putting them into action is required. Here is an opportunity to put those beliefs into action in an more environmentally-friendly, community-drive way.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Cassie Holmes of Little Earth and a Lac Courte Oreilles tribal member said, “What we want first and foremost is the city to not demolish the building because of the arsenic.” She recalled being asked by city representatives where her people were at meetings. She would point out, “We don’t get paid to sit in meetings. I have four kids at home. I have to flex my job.” But she told them, “Trust me. When my community is needed, they will show up. I warned them. And this is where we are today.” She added, “The community is tired of being a sacrificial zone.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

A press conference was held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center by Indigenous tribal members opposed to the demolition of the Roof Depot site for the city's public works site expansion. The 7.5-acre property is owned by the city, but the community's vision for the site includes an indoor urban farm. They were working to purchase the property in 2015 when the city threatened eminent domain and purchased it at a higher cost. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Jolene Jones said, “We have suffered. We suffer from the effects of institutional and generational trauma and we live in this every day. Some times it feels like we are being left again to die…. This is the definition of institutional genocide.” She said they are standing up “because it is the right thing to do.” “We’re not asking for anything outside of basic human rights.” Jones let people know that no outside agency is evaluating the pollution at the Smith Foundry. They do their own standard checks. “In the summertime when you’re standing outside and that big black cloud goes by and you can’t breathe and your kids can’t breathe and you go inside. They tell you that it’s nothing, that the Smith Foundry monitors their own [expletive].” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Cassandra Holmes (left), Joe Vital and Rachel Thunder speak at a press conference held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center by Indigenous tribal members opposed to the demolition of the Roof Depot site for the city's public works site expansion. The 7.5-acre property is owned by the city, but the community's vision for the site includes an indoor urban farm. They were working to purchase the property in 2015 when the city threatened eminent domain and purchased it at a higher cost. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Cassie Holmes of Little Earth and a Lac Courte Oreilles tribal member said, “What we want first and foremost is the city to not demolish the building because of the arsenic.” She recalled being asked by city representatives where her people were at meetings. She would point out, “We don’t get paid to sit in meetings. I have four kids at home. I have to flex my job.” But she told them, “Trust me. When my community is needed, they will show up. I warned them. And this is where we are today.” She added, “The community is tired of being a sacrificial zone.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

A press conference was held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center by Indigenous tribal members opposed to the demolition of the Roof Depot site for the city's public works site expansion. The 7.5-acre property is owned by the city, but the community's vision for the site includes an indoor urban farm. They were working to purchase the property in 2015 when the city threatened eminent domain and purchased it at a higher cost. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)