‘Cover Stories’ Archives
The Minneapolis American Indian Center Reopens May 1st!
All are welcome to a grand reopening and powwow celebrating the historic renovation By NATALIE RADEMACHER, Communications Coordinator, MAIC Courtesy Full Circle Planning and Design This May, the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) will open its doors again after nearly 2 years of renovation. The community is invited to celebrate the completion of this historic project at a powwow and open house on Wednesday, May 1. The festivities will kick off with a parade marking the start of Minnesota American Indian Month. The parade will begin at the Cedar Avenue Field Park (2500 Cedar Ave.) at 10 am and conclude at the Center (1530 East Franklin Ave.) followed by a public ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 am, with food available afterwards from local food trucks and the center’s Gatherings Cafe. From noon to 2, the Center will be open for the community to explore the new and updated spaces. Staff will distribute T-shirts and swag and be on hand to answer questions. At 5 [...]
Cumulative Impact Laws Ignored in East Phillips
The MPCA lacks a sense of urgency in addressing high levels of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other negative impacts in East Phillips By KAREN CLARK AND H. LYNN ADELSMAN Jolene Jones directed anger and frustration towards a panel of officials from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at a community meeting in November. Photo: DAVID PIERINI As community members continue to demand Smith Foundry be shut down due to toxic emissions and continue to show up at meetings where the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says it’s listening and cares, the strong odor continues. On its website, the MPCA states: “The MPCA continues to focus on improving air quality in overburdened communities and to work toward environmental justice.” However, in February 2024, Círculo de Amigos staff called to report the exposure of children at the child care center to a strong odor of toxic emissions, but no one from the MPCA responded with a site visit. There is no clear [...]
Owámniyomni Okhódayapi Welcomes Barry Hand as Program Director
By OWÁMNIYOMNI OKHÓDAYAPI Owámniyomni Okhódayapi (formerly Friends of the Falls), a project rooted in the revitalization of Dakota culture and restoring connections to the River, proudly welcomes Barry Hand as its newest team member. With a rich background in teaching Dakota language and an impressive portfolio of community development initiatives, Hand brings a wealth of experience to the role of program director. We introduce Hand to the community by delving into his background, his recent contributions at Tinta Wita (Prairie Island), and his early visions for programming at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). Barry Hand’s journey is one marked by a deep commitment to language preservation and community development. Hand’s roots growing up in a Lakota language-speaking household laid the foundation for his career. He has taught Dakota language for the past 15 years and, armed with a degree in public policy with a focus on sustainability, has collaborated on program [...]
