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Sacred Sites International Foundation
October 20, 2000 Dear Mr. Steger, We are writing to voice our concerns regarding highway construction near Camp Coldwater and nearby artesian Coldwater Spring. Our organization is a non-profit group that advocates to preserve sacred sites. Coldwater Spring is a Native American sacred site. It is also considered the birthplace of Minnesota: by turns, it has been a Mendota Dakota settlement, a military outpost, and a trading post for the settlers who founded Minneapolis and St. Paul. Building a road near Camp Coldwater would detrimentally affect Coldwater Spring, both hydrologically and culturally. We believe that our concerns, and those of many other stakeholders, can be addressed if the Department of Transportation considers the cumulative effects of road-building on the spring. Therefore, we ask that you withhold federal funding until a hydrology study can be done to determine the origin of water flowing through Coldwater Spring. Our primary concerns are these: 1. The proposed new route for Highway 55 may disturb Native American artifacts in the Coldwater Spring area. A sacred prayer site near the spring, defined by four ancient oak trees, was used for ceremonies and burial rites. Traces of burial mounds exist nearby and Native elders from various communities have validated their authenticity. These artifacts are precious and irreplacable. 2. It appears that the water flow to this historic spring will be disrupted with the construction of the road. To the Mendota Dakota people, the original inhabitants of this area, the spring is medicine water. The word Men-do-ta means where the waters meet. The area around Coldwater Spring was called Ta-Ku-Wa-Kan Ti-Pi: The Dwelling Place of the Gods. You can imagine how cavalier many of us would consider a highway running through the cemetery where our family might be buried; and how debasing we would consider highway run-off in clear water used for ceremonial purposes. We hope that you will take our views
into consideration, and that you will make the correct decision to work
with local officials to Sincerely, Leonard and Nancy Becker 1442A Walnut St. #330, Berkeley, CA 94709, U.S.A
Phone/Fax 510-525-1304 e-mail: sacredsite@aol.com |
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Sacred Sites International Foundation Dear Ms. Kyral, We are writing to voice our concerns regarding the sale and development of Camp Coldwater and nearby artesian Coldwater Spring. Our organization is a non-profit group that advocates to preserve sacred sites. Coldwater Spring is a Native American sacred site. It is also considered the birthplace of Minnesota: by turns, it has been a Mendota Dakota settlement, a military outpost, and a trading post for the settlers who founded Minneapolis and St. Paul. Selling Camp Coldwater would detrimentally affect Coldwater Spring, both hydrologically and culturally. We believe that our concerns, and those of many other stakeholders, can be addressed if a Traditional Cultural Property study is completed before Camp Coldwater is sold. Our primary concerns are these: 1. The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, plans to purchase the 27.3 acre Camp Coldwater and pave seven of the flattest acres near Coldwater Spring for an 850-space parking lot for airport employees. If this sale is approved, the federally rotected conservation easement would not include the source of Coldwater Spring or its outflow. To the Mendota Dakota people, the original inhabitants of this area, the spring is medicine water. The word Men-do-ta means where the waters meet. The area around Coldwater Spring was called Ta-Ku-Wa-Kan Ti-Pi: The Dwelling Place of the Gods. 2. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to build a new route for Highway 55 that may disturb Native American artifacts in the Coldwater Spring area. Moreover, it appears that the water flow to this historic spring will be disrupted with the construction of the road. A sacred prayer site near the spring, defined by four ancient oak trees, was used for ceremonies and burial rites. Traces of burial mounds exist nearby and Native elders from various communities have validated their authenticity. These artifacts are precious and irreplacable. We hope that you will take our views into consideration, and that you will make the correct decision to work with local officials to Complete
a Traditional Cultural Property study before approving the sale of Camp
Coldwater Sincerely, 1442A Walnut St. #330, Berkeley, CA 94709, U.S.A
Phone/Fax 510-525-1304 e-mail: sacredsite@aol.com
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Sacred Sites International Foundation Dear Mr. Secretary, We are writing to voice our concerns regarding the sale and development of Minnesota?s Camp Coldwater and nearby artesian Coldwater Spring. Our organization is a non-profit group that advocates to preserve sacred sites. Coldwater Spring is a Native American sacred site. It is also considered the birthplace of Minnesota: by turns, it has been a Mendota Dakota settlement, a military outpost, and a trading post for the settlers who founded Minneapolis and St. Paul. Selling Camp Coldwater would detrimentally affect Coldwater Spring, both hydrologically and culturally. We believe that our concerns, and those of many other stakeholders, can be addressed if a Traditional Cultural Property study is completed before Camp Coldwater is sold. Our primary concerns are these: 1. The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, plans to purchase the 27.3 acre Camp Coldwater and pave seven of the flattest acres near Coldwater Spring for an 850-space parking lot for airport employees. If this sale is approved, the federally protected conservation easement would not include the source of Coldwater Spring or its outflow. To the Mendota Dakota people, the original inhabitants of this area, the spring is medicine water. The word Men-do-ta means where the waters meet. The area around Coldwater Spring was called Ta-Ku-Wa-Kan Ti-Pi: The Dwelling Place of the Gods. 2. Additionally,
the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to build a new route
for Highway 55 that may disturb Native American
artifacts in the Coldwater Spring area. Moreover, it appears that the
water flow to this historic spring will
be disrupted with the construction of the road. A sacred prayer site near
the spring, defined by four ancient oak
trees, was used for ceremonies and burial rites. Traces of burial mounds
exist nearby and Native elders from various communities
have validated their authenticity. These rtifacts We hope that you will take our views into consideration, and that you will make the correct decision to work with local officials to Complete
a Traditional Cultural Property study before approving the sale of Camp
Coldwater Sincerely, Leonard and Nancy Becker |