III.1. Adopt a Proclamation Recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month; Imihy Bean
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-123
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: PeggySue Imihy Bean, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager
Date: November 14, 2023
Subject: Adopt a Proclamation Recognizing November as Native American
Heritage Month
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt a Proclamation Native American Heritage Month.
OVERVIEW
The City of Hopkins sits on the ancestral lands of the Dakota peoples, and is also home
to the Anishinaabe peoples. Minnesota is home to 11 federally recognized tribes, and the
name of our state, Minnesota comes from the Dakota word ‘Mni Sóta’ meaning meaning
slightly cloudy waters or waters that reflect the sky.
The Dakota people, and Indigenous Americans across the United States have suffered
great injustice since the time settlers reach America. Including the forced displacement
from their lands, treaties which were not honored by the United States, and the forced
removal and assimilation of Indigenous children through the boarding school
system.Despite these challenges, many Indigenous traditions, celebrations and people
thrive. Starting first as a single day to honor indigenous people across the U.S., Native
American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1990. This month recognizes and
celebrates the invaluable contributions of Native peoples that have shaped our country
and honor the hundreds of Tribal Nations who continue exercising their inherent
sovereignty.
Earlier this month, City Staff along with other members of the Hopkins Race and Equity
Initiative (HREI) took an afternoon to celebrate Indigenous food, culture and art. Members
visited the Indigenous Food Lab at Midtown Global Market for lunch and then visited the
Minneapolis Institute of Art to explore the exhibit, In Our Hands: Native American
Photography, 1890 to now. These rich experiences demonstrate the grief, joy and
perseverance of Indigenous Peoples. For those interested in learning more about how to
celebrate and honor the Indigenous community this month, experiences like these are a
great place to start.
Tonight, the City recognizes Native America Heritage Month, and acknowledges the
meaningful and important contributions of Indigenous community members and Staff.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Proclamation Recognizing Native American Heritage Month
Administration
A Proclamation
Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month
WHEREAS, the Indigenous People of the Wahpekute (northern) bands of the Dakota
Nation have lived upon and travelled the land of modern-day Hopkins since time
immemorial; and; and
WHEREAS, the Wahpekute People of the Dakota Nation were subject to ethnic cleansing
and displaced from their homeland through coerced acceptance of land cession treaties,
particularly those of 1837 and 1851, which were inequitable from the start and ultimately
executed in bad faith by local and federal government entities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins strives to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination
towards Indigenous Peoples, to celebrate and honor Indigenous People to better honor
their experiences and to hold in esteem their roots, history, and contributions to our
culture; and to dedicate to this effort a month of intentional reflection; and
WHEREAS, November is recognized as National Native American Heritage month; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins recognizes the month of November 2023 as Native
American Heritage Month to promote authentic appreciation, tolerance, reconciliation,
understanding, friendship, and continued partnerships among all of its people and the
Indigenous Peoples of this land;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Patrick Hanlon, Mayor of the City of Hopkins in the State of
Minnesota, along with my fellow Council Members, recognize, adopt, and proclaim the
month of November as Native American Heritage Month in the City of Hopkins, and urge
all residents to accept and honor each person’s uniqueness, seeing it as a natural and
beautiful part of human diversity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Seal of the City of
Hopkins, Minnesota to be affixed this 14th day of
November 2023.
_______________________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor