go figure ...
4/10/2006
The Army Corp of Engineers is closing a recreational area in north-central Minnesota that contains a sacred memorial to Native Americans. Mike Simonson reports from Superior.
The Corp says budget cuts make it necessary to close four of 10 sites this summer, among them, the Sandy Lake Memorial. 155 years ago, about 5000 people from tribes in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota died after being forced to travel hundreds of miles to Sandy Lake near McGregor, Minnesota. They were promised food and money in exchange for ceding territory to the United States government. They didn't get it. Instead, 400 died of starvation and sickness trying to make it back to their homes in the winter of 1850. A memorial rests there to remember the Sandy Lake tragedy.
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Director Jim Zorn says budget or not, the memorial must be open to visitors. "It's not only the tribes that are involved in the Mikwendaagoziawag Memorial that are very upset with this decision but a bunch of other people in the McGregor and Sandy Lake area that the Army Corp of Engineers is working very hard to keep the Sandy Lake Recreation area open." Zorn says he's disappointed the tribes were never consulted before this decision was made. Army Corp Acting Deputy Commander Tom Crump in Saint Paul says they have begun talks with the tribes. "Yes it was an oversight that it wasn't considered earlier in the decision-making process."
more...
http://www.businessnorth.com/kuws.asp?RID=1433
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
