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.
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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
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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
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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.