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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 05/17/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2021 7:00 P.M. (Virtual Meeting) 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Steve Schumacher; Robert Bowes COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary Matthew Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Devyn Stanton, Aarav Subbaiah, Anna Patten, Finn Bloch, Maia Chevez, Sarthak Agrawal I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Acting Chair Fisher called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Absent were commission members Thorp and Spera, and student representatives Bloch, Subbaiah, Chevez, and Agrawal. Mohamed Duale, Katherine Lucht and Megan Yerks of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission joined the meeting. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Fisher explained the land acknowledgement statement and that Yerks was instrumental in formulating it. Guest commission member Lucht read the statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2021 meeting. Motion carried 4-0. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 17, 2021 Page 2 V. NEW BUSINESS A. PRESENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION INITIATIVES (MEGAN YERKS AND SEVERAL HRDC COMMISSIONERS) Yerks thanked the commission members for inviting members of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission. Yerks gave a brief overview of the commission: this was also an advisory commission to the City Council, a 13- member commission also with student representatives that worked around human rights and diversity. The commission worked closely with the Police Department and had a protocol in place for residents’ complaints of bias. ADA grievances also came to this commission. The greatest part of its work was collaboration with the community on programs and mentorship. Events included the Stop the Trafficking 5K Race on June 12 at Purgatory Creek (a hybrid virtual/in person event) and the Peoplefest Celebration, a two-week festival in collaboration with the community. Lucht gave the history of the development of the Land Acknowledgment Statement. The commission worked with Crystal Moose of Native Pride Dancers, who was of the Ojibwe nation. Fisher asked if any connections had been made to the Mdewakanton Sioux community in Shakopee. Yerks replied the HRDC had not done so yet but would be very interested in creating a connection with the Mdewakanton nation. Fisher asked for recommendations for the HPC for the interpretation and preservation of Native American heritage sites. Yerks suggested several resources: the Mdewakanton Cultural Center, the Historical Center’s Bdote Site (https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/bdote), and the Native Governance Center, a nonprofit that hosts webinars and advises on building relationships with indigenous organizations. “Language Matters” was a resource for using language surrounding indigenous cultures. Yerks stated beyond indigenous culture, the Human Rights and Diversity Committee was working in partnerships with the school district and the Historical Society on a guide for Eden Prairie. [Ross joined the meeting at 7:34 p.m.] B. PRESENTATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE SOMALI COMMUNITY IN EDEN PRAIRIE (MOHAMED DUALE) Mohamed Duale displayed a PowerPoint and presented on the Somali community in Eden Prairie. The Somali people were partitioned due to colonialism by the British, Italian, and French, and their lands divided into Somalia, Ethiopia and EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 17, 2021 Page 3 Kenya. Somali refugees in Eden Prairie came from all over the original map of Somalia. Most Somalis were refugees (unwilling to return) or asylum seekers (unable to return), rather than immigrants (voluntarily left). The reasons for leaving their homeland were varied. Duale shared some of his personal experiences. Due to threats he fled first to Kenya, where he worked in refugee camps, then to the West. Islam was important to the Somali people, and Duale described some of the basic tenets of this religion. The first Somali family came to Eden Prairie in 1995. According to a 2007 survey, 50 percent of Somali women had daily communication with their own community and 22 with other Eden Prairie residents once a week, while 39 percent of Somali women reported contact with other Eden Prairie residents less than once a week and 17 had no outside contact at all. Somalis chose Eden Prairie as a good place to raise and educate their children, and for its safety and job opportunities. A pre-existing community naturally attracted later Somali refugees. Challenges to the Somali community included gender issues: men and women operated in separate spaces and had a gender-based division of labor. Navigating the American system and mental health issues were also challenging. Somalis brought to Eden Prairie a unique culture, their work ethic, and a strong commitment to small business ownership. Young Somalis born here were successfully completing higher education and moving into fields such as medicine, social work, engineering, and business. Somali youth faced challenges such as living in two worlds, the need to fit in and be “American,” difficulty finding good-paying jobs or working multiple jobs, discipline, and parents being unaware of the available drugs to youth and the foreign concept to Somali culture of chemical dependency and treatment. Duale shared some traditional Somali greetings and encouraged Eden Prairie residents to be friendly to and greet their Somali neighbors, to learn about major costumes, beliefs and holidays, and to know that Somalis were often not open to strangers whom they rarely meet, but value the relationships they make with neighbors and friends. Fisher thanked Duale for his presentation and asked how the 50-year threshold for historic preservation fit with acknowledging the contribution of Somalis in Eden Prairie. Novak-Krebs replied the commission could make the decision to celebrate the contribution of Somalis at any time, without waiting for a 50-year legacy. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION May 17, 2021 Page 4 Ross stated the Society would be meeting this coming Thursday. The plant exchange would be held on May 22 from 10:00 to noon. The Society would contribute a scavenger hunt and an open house at the Cummins Phipps Grill House to Peoplefest. IX. FYI ITEMS X NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.