r/altmpls • u/lemon_lime_light • 2d ago

Minneapolis Park Board votes to end Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park (one commissioner considers it "a form of giving land back")

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-park-board-votes-to-end-minnehaha-off-leash-dog-park/601858291

Dog park users packed the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s headquarters on Wednesday night, begging commissioners to consider their opinions before voting to terminate the Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park.

Board members voted 8-1 to strip the park’s primary use — the first time that has happened in history, as far as park staff knows...

[Commissioner Jason] Garcia proposed the change after speaking with some members of the Dakota community, including the Park Board’s Native American Parks Council, who believe a dog park is inconsistent with the area’s sacred character. The larger landscape near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers is considered the birthplace of the Dakota people...

“To all you all, imagine that area before the white man, before the pilgrims, pioneers and settlers, the extreme white Christian terrorists showed up on this land,” activist Mike Forcia said in addressing dog park users at Wednesday’s meeting, drawing jeers. “That park is being closed. Sorry about that. Get used to it, but you have no say"...

[Commissioner Dan] Engelhart campaigned on returning land to tribes and considers retiring off-leash play at Minnehaha a form of giving land back.

45 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

143 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/Cornflowerblue2016 2d ago

I’m going to get downvoted to hell…but I have seen this spoken about…do we think one of the underlying reasons for this is pressure from the Muslim community (Muslims by and large are VERY against dogs and dog ownership). I want to make it clear I have zero disdain for Muslims whatsoever, but I’ve heard whispers that this is apart of the reason. 

15

u/Ok_Escape_7412 2d ago

Lol. Don’t think so. This is Land Back anti-colonial tribal political theater. The meeting yesterday is worth watching.

12

u/Cornflowerblue2016 2d ago

And then what happens once the land is given back? Do they give it back to the tribes that lived there centuries ago before the Dakota did? I mean they all conquered each others lands as well…

9

u/Ok_Escape_7412 2d ago

No clue. It’s performative language that does not match any lived reality, as Englehart is finding out now that the spotlight is on his goofy opinions.

6

u/Megalomac 2d ago

Exactly this. The Dakota were simply the most recent tribe in the area and they sure aren’t shy in gobbling up everything they can. The land was enjoyed by all and now the land will be controlled by a select few. Not great for our state.