Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition Every Monday Night
7:00 p.m. at the Gathering Grounds Coffee House on 50th St. and 34th Ave. So. in Minneapolis


MINUTES OF PRESERVE CAMP COLDWATER COALITION MEETING

September 25, 2000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
CONVEYANCE OF THE FORMER BUREAU OF MINES,
TWIN CITIES RESEARCH CENTER

The public review process for conveyance of the fromer Bureau of Mines, Twin cities Research Center, Main Capmus, is being extended to enable additional public
participation and consultation with interested parties. As part of this process, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines Closure Team, will provide notification about the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and the due date for comments regarding the Draft EA. The date for the closing of public comment will be announced in the publication of the Notice of Availability of the Draft EA.

Written comments will continue to be accepted at the following office:
National Park Service
111 East Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55101
--------------------------------------
end of NPS notice, here is their email address:
"JoAnn Kyral, MNR&RA"
----------------------
So keep those cards and letters flowing - how 'bout one a week!!
The NPS needs to hear that all historic, cultural and natural resouce studies need to be completed BEFORE they can even consider selling it.

And don't forget our pen-pale Jeff:
Jeff Hamiel
Executive Director, Metropolitan Airports Commission
612 726-8188
6040 28th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55450
jhamiel@mspmac.org
Jeff needs to hear again and again what a bad deal this is for the MAC - 6 million $ for height restrictions and NO Parking Lot.
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MEETING CANCELED
The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District has Canceled the special meeting scheduled for Monday, October 2 at 4:00. This was to have been a preparation
meeting for the MCWD staff meeting next week. Since no new material will be available Monday there is no need to meet.
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RACISM IN SPORTS
March to the Metrodome (Gophers vs Illinois (featuring Chief Illini))
Saturday, September 30 Meet at AIM Peace Maker Center at 9:00 am 24th and Cedar

Information and Planning Meeting
Friday, September 29 at 7:00 pm
AIM Peace Maker Center
Speakers include Vernon Bellecourt
Video by Jay Rosenstine: IN WHO'S HONOR
for more information: 612 910-0370
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A Strib Coalition pointer page:
http://communities.startribune.com/845/
anything to draw new folks in...

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For a good time try:
http://billionairesforbushorgore.com/
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Thanks, JJS


May 15, 2000

Announcements included;

John S is doing well after surgery. The surgery, though more extensive than planned turned out very promising, and recovery is showing promising signs. We all wish John well!!

Camp Coldwater voted to endorse the National Lawyers Guild letter denouncing police brutality, on the simple basis that brutality is wrong.

Planning is in progress to have more events like the Open House, to help build more community and provide an easy place for newcomers to join us.

Michael Bayly is displaying his Faces of Resistance at St Martins Table restaurant located at 20th and Riverside in Minneapolis. Saturday at noon some are going there to have lunch and view his work.

Next Monday is Dave Manuals court date at 9AM. He is the one who suffered a heart attack during one of the police raids.

The rest of the meeting focused on the BWSR decision of watershed boundaries. Everyone was upset that given the fact no hydrology study has been done the boundary determination followed political lines rather than hydrology lines. A big distinction between the two watersheds is that Minnehaha Creek has groundwater rules when Lower Minnesota does not, yet Lower Minnesota was granted authority over construction near the spring. A decision to protest BWSR was made if we can get enough people on board, including the Dakota, who was not present at the meeting. A final time and place has not been determined More is expected to come through the phone tree as to when and where, once a decision is finalized.

APRIL 24TH 2000
UPDATES
Jimmy Anderson updated us on the construction progress in the area of the four scared trees. MN Dot has dug 6ft down into the bedrock. This is what is considered worn bedrock according to definitions given by MN Dot at the MCWD meeting. It is not solid bedrock. Jimmy has been given permission to be in the area to monitor the work, and would like to see a more efficient & systematic way to oversee what is being done. Jimmy will contact Kelton Barr, Eric Evanson, Joe Yanta (Army Corp of Engineers) Val Svenson (MN Dot Project Manager) & Ceil Strauss (DNR Hydrologist) concerning monitoring in the area. Hopefully, something can be worked out between these groups to keep track of what is being done.

Jimmy has also contacted Jim Jones from the MN Bureau of Indian Affairs to get his involvement. Currently he is out of town.

We would like to encourage anyone who is available during the hours of 8am – 4pm (when MN Dot is at work) to go down to the construction site to witness what is being done and to take pictures to document the current work.

Jimmy also said that Linda Brown was not able to get through to anyone concerning the voice mail box for the Coalition, still working on this.

Captain Kitterage called Jimmy to confirm that Antonio was the person arrested in Ill. for murder.

2. EARTH DAY

Mary Wietz praised the wonderful turn out and all the hard work that Leslie Davis did for the Earth Day event at Loring Park. We would like to pass the hat for a contribution to Leslie and his campaign for the US Senate. It was decided to wait until after the Open House to do this.

3. OPEN HOUSE

    • Press release will be sent out tomorrow 4/25/00
    • Lisa’s banner –Tom will bring rods for the banner
    • Open House Signs
    • Jim Anderson PA system
    • Michael Bailey –photos
    • Be ready to park away from the Spring because of current road conditions
    • Be ready to pack up at Spring in time to get to the hearing by 4 pm

Speaking at the Hearing:
Jimmy Anderson
Craig Larson
Bruce White
Lynn Levine
John Steinworth
Susu Jeffery
  1. MAY DAY

    2. May 1, Celebrate World Labor Day in downtown Minneapolis. Rally and march, Reclaim the Streets celebration-11AM- Peavey Plaza
    May 7, Powderhorn Park, we will have Teepee space, Karla will go to the meeting with the park to get all the details.

  2. WATERSHED DISTRICT

John spoke with Eric Evenson, who was very upset with the news that the Lower Minnesota Watershed District is also petitioning to BOWSR for stewardship of the land around the Camp Coldwater area. The Lower Minnesota is also supported by the Army Corp of Engineers & MAC for them to be the governing watershed.

6. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Huck & Marigold settled their court cases. They each received 50 hours of community service.

$65.00 was collected in the hat tonight.

Monday, April 17, 2000
1. Leslie Davis of Earth Protectors talked about Earth Day Celebration at Loring Park. We will have a teepee set up and a table. People signed up to work at the table.

2. Open House, 4/27.
¨ The meeting proceeded while invitations were worked on.
¨ Sign-up sheets for the different committees were sent around. John Steinworth outlined the needs.

3. Environmental Progressive Caucus and the Sabo Letter
¨ John Kolstad presented the letter with Craig Larson. Sabo has a much more mild letter than the EVP letter, but suggested that the EVP letter be attached to hers. The EVP is going to get signatures on the EVP letter and will have their petition/letter at Earth Day as well.
¨ John made a request for VIDEOS, PICTURES, TESTIMONY/AFFIDAVITS OF POLICE BRUTALITY so the EVP has them to back up the charges in the letter. Anyone having such info should contact John at jkolstad@millcitymusic.com. He may also be reached by phone at Mill City Music.

4. Minnhaha Watershed District Report
¨ Kelton Barr gave his report on the independent hydrogeologic study and the other monitoring he has done of the spring. Kelton gives his information to Mn/DOT, but their information does not flow from them to him.

5. Kris reported on an outgoing only voice mail box. The cost is $20 a month and must be attached to an existing business system. Jimmy offered to have it at MMDC. We give him $20. He will get a report back to us next week. We will need to take a monthly collection of $20 for the MMDC.

6. May Day HOBT, 5/7
¨ The deposit has been placed for the table. The teepee will be set up. Can get in that morning at 9:30 to set up table and teepee.
¨ The parade starts at noon. We have a choice to be in the free speech section or in the main parade (see next point). If we choose to march in the free speech section, we will do organizing around that after the open house. The theme of the parade is Divining Economy.
¨ Susu has proceeded on working on creating the great walleye as part of the Eternal Wealth section of the parade. The water will flow from its mouth, if I understand the concept correctly. The great fish frame is in process at HOBT, 15th Avenue and Lake Street (1 blk west of Bloomington Ave.). Work hours are 7-9 Tues and Thurs and 9-11 & 1-3 on Sats if you want to get in on the creation. Help is needed, so join in if you can. No artistic talent necessary for painting, paper machéing, etc., so come along and help. It's fun. Artistic talent is nice for conceptual stuff.

Added Note from Sue Ann: since the meeting, the person who was going to make the banners for Earth Day and the Open House is no longer available. Lisa has taken on these tasks (yea! Lisa).

APRIL 10, 2000
RECORDER: Tom and Sue Ann

The agenda of this weeks meeting included:
the BWSR open house organizing
Monitoring of the construction site
Bumper stickers
Nader report
May Day Celebration and Parade
Annoucements

APRIL 27 OPEN HOUSE
John S has been in correspondence with officials to have Camp Coldwater open for the open house on the 27th of April, the day of the hearing regarding the Minnehaha Watershed District.

He has just been informed that the area can be open from 12 noon to 4 PM on 4/27, which will allow people who come to the watershed meeting to be able to go and visit the Coldwater area and see for themselves what we are trying to protect with their help. As of now we are inviting 75 municipalities plus the Governor, Mayor Belton, Wellstone, Grams & Sabo. We are also hoping that a few TV\Radio\Print news will cover this event. It's a time to make ourselves shine.

We need to present this issue as positive and stress that it is only right to save the spring. We do need the municipalities and officials help to get this to happen, so we need to help make them feel good about this.

At the meeting itself, we are asking Craig Larson, Bruce White Ph.D. and Jimmy Anderson. So come if you can! Invite your friends too! Listen to Mr. White and Larson first, they may say what we all really want to say first. A good crowd to back up White and Larson will definitely help.

We are in need of some help for this event. Areas to help with are:
the BWSR open house organizing
Signs And Banners,
Finance,
Invitations And Mailing
Tables and Grounds
Parking and Traffic Control
Trash and Pickup
Food & Beverage

If you would like to help, email John. We can use your help!


MONITORING/REPORT ON CONSTRUCTION
For monitoring of the construction area, it's a good news/bad news situation. Good news is their staying above the solid bedrock! They have switched to smaller pipes and will no longer be digging nearly as deep as planned. However they still don't know where the water is and it's still a not clear that they won't damage the spring, though this definitely improves the chances of saving it. They say that the weight of the road is inconsequential. But I don't know how they determined that. They are still digging into the worn bedrock (the layer that hit the spring on 50th). And they are now south of 54th street and getting closer to the spring.

On Thursday at the Minnetonka City Hall is a Minnehaha Watershed District meeting when Kelton Barr will give the results of some of the studies. It will be around 8pm.

The archeological digs are taking place, though there has been some question about the depth and places where they are choosing to do them. The area around the 4 oaks will only be scrapped. No extensive digging. The will make one pass with the plow and scrape a few inches and look at the results for bones, etc, and repeat the process. There was a call to come and help watch the construction in the mornings, especially because this is a time when few people are around.

GREEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, STATE REP CANDIDATE
On Friday, April 7, Ralph Nader spoke to a packed house of about 600 at the Bell Museum at the U of M. The campaign raised $2000 for the Green Party, and Nader will probabaly be the Green Party candidate nationwide. Scott Cramer and Sue Ann will be working on Holly Brian's campaign for Wes Skoglund's position in District 62 (the District adjacent to the spring).

BUMPER STICKERS
We have more bumper stickers and they are paid for with the help of passing the hat and a big donation from Scott. Thanks, Scott!!!!

MAY DAY PARADE AND TABLING
There was talk about May Day. We could be in the main parade provided that we have things prepared. Construction times are Tuesday and Thursday 7-9 PM and Saturday 9-3. This is at the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater on 15th Avenue and Lake St (one block west of Bloomington Avenue) in Minneapolis. There didn't appear to be many people with interest in being in the main parade, so it is questionable if anything is going to happen.

But people will probably show up for the free speech section at the end of the parade with signs to support our cause in any case. Organizing around the free speech section will be discussed at meetings after the open house on the 27th. Mainly we need signs and where to meet.

Tabling: A table at May Day in the park costs $50. A refundable damage deposit of $100 is due soon. Tom M. is checking into the table. He will get a check from Jimmy for the damage deposit. Jimmy also plans to put up his teepee by our May Day Table.

Also, Sue Ann is getting banners from Matt, who Freedom recommended, for the parade, open house, Earth Day, etc. They will cost $15 - $20 each. They are sheet size.

EARTH DAY
Earth day ( April 22nd) is an opportunity to collect lots of signatures for our petition. Come and help if you can. We can also get the word out about the open house. The more the merrier! Each person of support helps. A sign-up sheet was sent around for people to sign up for tabling. Four oaks are going to be planted in Loring park in the four directions. This is to honor Bruce Vento and the 55 protesters. This is good news.


PHONE TREE ACTIVATION
Phone tree will be activated for the earth day\open house events as well as May Day. Lisa, Lynn and Jeannie were good enough to volunteer the coordination of the phone tree.

COURT UPDATES
Austin's sentence has been reduced. No jail time or fine!
Dr Toxic, is being retried for the 1998 raid, this is on April 24th at 9AM.
Marigold who was arrested for praying at the tree has a court date of
April 12th 9am
Freedom was arrested at the Cargill demonstration and the trial is on May
12th.

Mn/DOT
Mn/DOT won the lawsuit with the Minnehaha Watershed District. No specifics on this. Just that the watershed was found to only have jurisdiction on topographical water in the creek and not groundwater. This is in relation to the bypass near the falls for the land bridge. We are hoping this is a learning experience for the next court date of the 20th for the injunction with the White report.

RALLY ON APRIL 20, HENNEPIN COUNTY COURT HOUSE, 8:00 am.
The Rally before the court date to file the injunction to stop the construction of the Reroute of Highway 55 is at 8:00 am on April 20.

WEB SITE
Interested people met last week and worked on the content and format of the web site. It's more organized and has new information, especially about the Open House. Susu is looking for photographs for the history of Coldwater that she is writing up. Some are known to exist at the history center, but a general call was made in case anyone knows where more might be found. Especially if someone can find a photo of the water wagon that went from the spring to the fort.

NEXT MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 17 AT THE GATHERING GROUND
Lots going on, and next Monday night meeting will be a major one for work for the upcoming open house on the 27th. Hope to see you there.

 

MARCH 13, 2000-MONDAY

FORTY PLUS PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE MEETING. THE AIR WAS FILLEDWITH HAPPINESS OVER THE SUCCESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS DISTRICT 62. EQUALLY, THERE WAS A FEELING OF DISMAY THAT THE JUDGE HAD THROWN THE MENDOTA'S COURT CASE OUT ONCE AGAIN. EACH PERSON READ A PARAGRAPH FROM THE NEWS STORIES. EXCIITED CHEERS OVER THE "GOOD STUFF" AND NEGATIVE COMMENTARIES ON THE "BAD STUFF" WERE EXPRESSED. I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES AS WELL AS THE WORST OF TIMES.

JIM ANDERSON WAS PRESENT AND HAD COPIES OF 3 LETTERS TO BE SENT OFF TO SUPPORT THE MENDOTA'S
IN THEIR PROCESS WITH PROTECTING THE SPRING. ONE WAS TO GET THE GATES OPEN. THE OTHER TWO WERE THE SAME LETTER TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHT RAIL. THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL THESE PROBLEMS ARE RESOLVED. IF INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT CALL THE MENDOTA OFFICE AT 651-452-4141. I WILL TRY TO GET THEM POSTED SO FOLKS CAN PRINT THEM OFF THE WEB SITE.

JAN WAS THERE WITH A PETITION/LETTER ADDRESSING CONCERNS OVER NEW LAWS TO HELP PROTECT THE COLD SPRING. NEXT WEEK I'LL HAVE HER PHONE NUMBER SO FOLKS CAN CONTACT HER TO SUPPORT THIS PROCESS.
I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MAKE COPIES OF THESE LETTERS AND GET THEM OUT TO OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS. tHE TIME IS NOW TO BECOME WORKER ANTS AND GET THESE LETTERS AND PETTIONS SIGNED AND RETURNED. DO NOT FORGET THE BWSR PETITION ON THE CAMP COLDWATER WEB PAGE.(CURRENTLY LINKED TO THE OCCUPATION OF HIGHWAY 55 WEB PAGE).

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN DOWN TO 54TH AND RIVERVIEW ROAD CAN SEE THAT MNDOT IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE SPRING. WHAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND AND HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND IS THE"OOOPS FACTOR". tHE SIZE OF THE HOLES IN THE "WORN"BEDROCK ON 54TH AND 50TH(EARLIER THIS YEAR) ARE WHAT WILL BE DUG BY THE SPRING. IT IS DISHEARTENING. WE CAN NOT LET ANYPUBLIC PERSON INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT THINK THAT OOOPS
WE BROKE THE BEDROCK AND DRIED THE SPRING UP IS AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME. tHEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
HOLES THE SIZE OF THE ONES BEING DUG WILL BREAK THE BEDROCK. IT DOES NOT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THAT OUT. JIM ANDERSON AND FRIENDS GOT MNDOT NOT TO DYNAMITE AROUND THE SPRING. " MNDOT SAYS" THEY WILL NOT DIG BY THE SPRING. THE ROAD WILL BE RAISED WITH FILL. SO NOW THE CITY CAN FIND ANOTHER WAY TO RUN CITY SEWER AND WATER OUT BEYOND THE SPRING. NO MORE OOPS FACTOR.

VERY SHORTLY WE WILL HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCETO ANNOUNCE THE NEW COALITION-"PRESERVE CAMP COLDWATER". APRIL 27 BWSR WILL HAVE HEARINGS ON ANNEXING THE COLDSPRING TO A WATERSHED DISTRICT.
WE WILL NEED HELP AND PEOPLE TO LEND THEIR SUPPORT.

SO-JOIN US AT THE GATHERING GROUNDS @ 7:00 PM MONDAY NIGHTS. BUY YOURSELF SOME FOOD OR YUMMY FLAVORED
COFFEE OR LATTE. THANK THE OWNER-CAROL- FOR HAVING THIS SPACE FOR US TO MEET IN.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE I MUST SAY I AM VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS. MOST IN THE MEETING WERE VERY FOCUSED ON THEIR HAPPINESS ABOUT THE POLITICAL FORCE WE SHOWED SUNDAY AT THE CAUCUS. I WANTED TO HARNESS THAT ENERGY AND JUMP RIGHT INTO OUR PRESS CONFERENCE. IT SADDENS ME I COULD NOT RELAX FOR A MOMENT AND ENJOY. HOWEVER, I DO FEEL WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD STRONG AND QUICK. WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE OUTCOMES WE WANT AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THEM. I THINK THE WORK WE NEED TO DO WILL BECOME EVER CLEARER WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. tHE NAME OF THE GAME IS ACTION. WE NEED TO BE WORKER ANTS. TO TRAVEL IN GRACE AND LOVE. HOLDING THE VISION OF THE PROTECTION OF CAMP COLDWATER WITHIN OUR HEARTS.
COME JOIN US IN A PIPE CEREMONY AT THE MASK OF LITTLE CROW ON SATURDAY AT 1:30. A TIME OF REJUVENATION AND BALANCE.(THE MASK IS BY THE FALLS TO THE SOUTH).

SINCERELY-
KARLA ROSE MCKENZIE

 

The development of the new coalition continued. Brilliant folks gathered together courageous in spirit but a bit haggard in their hearts.
Maybe it was just me for I feel very tired.

John Reinhardt joined us to share a story about his neighborhood
association and the sneak attack of MNDOT and other government officials who overturned a decision the group had made that the MNDOT folks said would stop light rail. The deceit continues as well as the abuse of power issues continue. MNDOT also said that they had lied in the past but would not do it any more. They were very open to their input as long as they did not keep their unanimous vote that would effect the light rail funding. They promised to answer all the peoples questions. This was back in September and no one has heard from them since. I am sorry I cannot be more clear. However, my body aches just trying to talk about it. Also I feel like someone is drilling a hole between my eyes in my forehead. So I will move along. It is the same kind of story we have heard over and over again. These people are supposed to serve and protect the public. Not screw and piss on them. My prayer is that folks who are in a position to make a differ-
ence find their voice and have the courage to use it.

Lynn and John talked about the Watershed meeting. The good news is the MMDC voted to petition BOWSR to annex Camp Coldwater. Yeah for the Watershed. The vote was 5-1. One of the managers did not look forward to more disturbing interactions with MNDOT. The bad news is "in the spirit of cooperation" MNDOT folks showed up to inform the Watershed that they would be moving ahead with their construction. MNDOT needs to put in monitoring wells. Which should have been done back in September. Now they are choosing to move ahead even though they still do not have those wells in four months later. Upon hearing the news many in the room gasped. Don Peterson the head of construction after sharing his 'SPIRIT OF COOPERATION" backed off and said,"Well we are easy so we will take the Watershed's suggestion of only working on the sound walls the watershed thinks are ok.(in terms of the groundwater issues). Lynn so graciously shared with the group my feelings of getting raped every time I go to those meetings. However I do not feel I will have any impact if I do not show up. I could sure use some more people at those meetings to help spread out the pain. Lynn Susu Jeannie John Priscella Lisa have all faithfully been witnesses to the pain and I am very grateful. I know they have brought the strength of this movement to the folks at the Watershed. We have made a difference. The moments of great joy for me are when I see people find their voice and use it. The light of their spirit fills their eyes. A truth is spoken. For a moment in time heaven meets earth and for that moment my heart is full and I know change is happening. Inch by inch we are moving in a direction of healing--creating a world I want to live in.

I'll give you a couple examples. One of the watershed managers has adamantly spoken of the "good faith" relationship they have with MNDOT. For months he has championed their cause. Finally, two weeks ago one of the other managers just let his heart be known. Very respectfully he pointed out that MNDOT said they had done all the necessary studies. Which was a lie. MNDOT'S own geoligist said their were no fishers in the seeps which goes against an accepted understanding in academia. He went on for about 3-4 minutes. I cannot remember all he said but I felt such a surge of energy in my body. Rather than the yucky slimey rape type feeling that has become so common to me in those meetings. For once the other managers delusion of MNDOT's "good faith" did not take center court.

Next topic in the meeting was SuSu reminding people to remember the land. How the land is suffering. She needs our prayers and our offerings.

The ceremony to celebrate the trees drew 40 people in spite of the cold. It felt wonderful to connect with others on the land again. To celebrate the trees. To honor the trees killed. To connect with the Jewish holiday. Cher did a wonderful job sharing about the fruits and grain offerings. To join in a pipe ceremony. The bridge to the other side in the words of Darlene.

Swanny shared his map. Also a story about an aquifer gushing in 98.
For the life of me I was to tired to comprehend of to share with you what it meant. So stay tuned I'll work on it.

Finally, I want to share a process that happened last week through an E-mail conversation with SuAnne. The issue of marketing and hooking people into the movement was talked about last week. The gift SuAnn brought to me is the concept of "moving people." Their have been so many people involved. Without the camp we must find new and creative ways to reconnect. We must learn how to nurture one one another like the Four Sacred trees nurtured us. To continue their legacy. The land has called us to heal. From the falls to the spring that sacredness continues. However we must forge out through the suffocating heaviness of our grief. To reconnect and heal our haggard hearts.

The first set of people who were arrested at the Sacred Trees go to court Thursday morning. People are meeting at 8:00. David will be there with his drum. Take a couple hours off of work and support those folks. They took a stand for all of us. If you cannot make it. Offer your prayers. Take a few breaths and connect with them in spirit.

Natalia is out of jail. She was begged by the jail keepers to tell her supporters to quit calling. She had anywhere from 250-1000 calls. It made a difference. The solidarity people showed kept her safe and her needs met. She was very grateful. She even got her GED. Welcome home Natanlia. Thank you.

I am sorry if I sound preachy. I am struggling myself. However, I must say a defining moment for me in this movement was last February I could barely drag myself to a meeting. Lo and behold there was SuSu and she said "Folks you can't drag now we have a lot to do." Of course she proceeded to tell one of her Bur Oak stories. That month we started to lobby at the capitol. So who knows what the spirits have in store for us. Where there is a will there is a way. When I got to the Capitol Mike Haney said to me, "We need your help Karla." So I say to you we need your help. Come on in to the Gathering Grounds on Monday
night. Have a tasty coffee or some yummy food. Join the group spirit and we'll see what we can do.

In peace love and healing
Karla Rose McKenzie

JANUARY 17TH, 2000

The meeting was a culmination of tying together issues the Coalition has been working on for the last three or so weeks.

The first decision that was finalized is that Stop the Reroute Coalition will now become Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition. Even though most in the Coalition still would like to see the road stopped. It would be in our best interest to narrow the focus in on the Spring. Many believe that the building of 394 broke the ground rock bedding that shut down Big Medicine Spring. Dan Dorgan from MNDOT has adamantly denied that MNDOT had any thing to do with shutting down Big Medicine Spring. No one can prove they did. However, MNDOT never proved they did not either. Now they have bulldozed ahead with highway 55. Once again they failed to do the work needed to have base line data to show ground water flow. Once again protecting themselves. Even though Mr. Dorgan has said MNDOT is a public servant. Their job is to serve and protect the public. Our hope is to support them in their mission.Two major elements in protecting the Spring are bringing in dirt (like they did for the tunnel). Secondly, not digging into the groundbed for the supports for the cloverleaf. There are claw like supports that would not have to be put into the ground. Thus, reducing the risk of breaking the groundbed.

This Sunday, January 23 is the Jewish celebration of the trees. An Ecumenical event is planned at the trees by the Coldspring gate at 12:00pm. A time of renewal and reconnection. The gathering is open to the public.

A new web sight is in process.

A major portion of this meeting was devoted to conversations about how to proceed. I need to tread through this area lightly for the reader can only imagine the energy of the conversation. A concern was shared about how do we prevent making the same mistakes of the past. The land is not Sacred just to the Mendota Dakota but to all Dakota peoples as well as many other tribes. Secondly, this area is the birth place of Minnesota. Thus, we must draw in the white folks. Even though they may not like to admit that they have a history because the Dakota's brought them healing with the spring . The lawlessness of the past has kept people away more than it has drawn them in and one main focus is to remedy that situation. The Coalition will explore the options.

So join us in a gathering by the trees who made it through MNDOT'S rampage. If you come to the coldspring gate you'll and be part of the continual rebirth of a movement that just won't die. The trees are our teachers to learn to connect heaven and earth. So reach for the sky but keep your roots planted. I hope to see you. That's 12:00 on Sunday, January 23.

Sincerely,
Karla Rose