SAINT PAUL, MINN — After months of citizen input and debate, all fifteen Minneapolis State Representatives and Senators are joining Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL – Minneapolis) and the Hennepin County Board to urge the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to approve the return of Minneapolis’ Lake Calhoun to its original Dakota Language name, Bde Maka Ska. You can read their complete letter here.
The name change was passed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on November 28, 2017 as part of the process required by state law. Now the Commissioner of Natural Resources Tom Landwehr must approve the requested name change.
“The name change represents a significant acknowledgement of our history as a city, county and state,” the legislators stated in their joint letter. “Restoring the name Bde Maka Ska will start conversations and educational experiences about our history and the first Indigenous people of Minnesota. This action will grow a deeper appreciation for the vibrant Native American Indian communities that still exist in Minneapolis and throughout the state.”
The letter went on to denounce John C. Calhoun’s legacy of white supremacy.
“John C. Calhoun was an advocate for slavery, white supremacy, and the extermination of Indigenous Americans. The history of Calhoun as a political or historical figure is not honored or dignified by Minnesotans now, nor should it ever have been.”
The fifteen elected officials signing the letter said they hoped the name change would help make the city landmark a “more welcoming place to all”.
“Just as it has been for generations, Bde Maka Ska will continue to be a treasure shared by all Minnesotans, and now will offer a deeper appreciation for our shared history.”
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