MINNESOTA WOMEN’S PRESS POWERFUL. EVERYDAY. WOMEN. UPHeating
Isabella Star LaBlanc: My Proposed Changes to Curriculum Tess Galati: When I Arrived in America The Mining Debate: Votes & Trust & Money & Environment Winona LaDuke on Pipelines
politics Issue womenspress.com august 2018 Issue 34-8
MINNESOTA “No viable alternative has been presented to address the financial impact of mining. It feels like we keep WOMEN’S PRESS tarrying on the wrong half of the POWERFUL. EVERYDAY. WOMEN. problem: the part where we ask if mining is bad for the environment. It is. So what do we do instead? “ — Anna Tennis, Duluth voter PHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PHOTO What’s inside? Editor Letter 4 Gentle Complexity: The Nature of Wholeness Reader Response 5 What Change Do You Seek? Think 7 Project Bike, Spain’s Female Cabinet, Primary Column: Tess Galati 8 Fresh Off the Boat
Heating Up 12-19 • Political Heat: Minnesota Mining It’s About Money, Trust, Votes, Science Tess galati tells Her Immigration story, page 8 • Money Matters: Mining Numbers • Grounded: Winona LaDuke Contact Us MWP team • Action in the Pipeline Process
651-646-3968 Owner/Editor: Mikki Morrissette Ism Schism 20 Business Development Director: Send a letter to the editor/suggest story idea: Shelly Damm Isabella Star LaBlanc: Proposed Adjustments to [email protected] Managing Editor: Sarah Whiting American History Curriculum Subscribe: [email protected] Contributors: Rebecca Cramer, Tess Galati, Jenn BookShelf 22 Advertise: [email protected] Hyvonen, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Winona LaDuke, Bob-e Simpson Epps: Shared Trauma of Race Abbie Nelson, Joy Osborn, Pia Phillips, Ashley Plouff, Events listings: [email protected] Sheila Regan, Bob-E Simpson Epps Learning Life 24 Rebecca Cramer: How to Re-Align “Normal” Our vision: There is much to be done, now Reporters: Maya Chadda, Siena Iwasaki Milbauer, more than ever. We believe it is the creative Ashlee Moser, Alyssa Story GoSeeDo Calendar 30 Including Women-Oriented Fringe Festival and collaborative energy of women that will Digital/Events Development: Mikki Morrissette bring measurable change for all lives. We turn Art of Living 38 the dial by bridging communities — by sharing Design/Photography: Sarah Whiting Regan Golden: Edgelands the multiple perspectives of powerful everyday Events Coordinator: Karen Olson Johnson women. Copy Editor: Kelly Gryting
The Minnesota Women’s Press is distributed free at 500 Factchecker: Selena Moon Ad guides locations. To find a copy near you, visit womenspress. Proofreader: Quinn Dreasler com and click on “get a copy” or call 651-646-3968. Education Guide 9 Help fund our storytellers with a subscription: Advertising Sales: Shelly Damm, Ashlee Moser Ashley Plouff’s Career in Manufacturing [email protected] Accounting: Fariba Sanikhatam Women Going Places Guide 26 Minnesota Women’s Press LLC 36 Years, 12 Women PO Box 8022 Operations: Kari Larson St. Paul, MN 55108 Backpack TLC _____ 35 Past Publishers: ©2018 by Minnesota Women’s Press LLC Teens Give Comfort to the Chronically Ill All rights reserved. ISSN #1085-2603 Mollie Hoben & Glenda Martin (1985-2002) Kathy Magnuson & Norma Smith Olson (2003-2017) Classified Ads 36 Gentle Complexity Mikki Morrissette
friend coined the phrase “gentle complexity” recently to describe how nature reflects to us a diverse wholeness of which we are a part. As we head squarely into hot August A primaries and mid-term election season, the environment is heating up in multiple ways. One of our writers in Duluth described it this way: “The political topography up here is bananas right now.” Is there a gentle way to approach our complexity?
As humans we tend to take a divide and “Forest bathing” is becoming a Reader Interaction conquer approach to land ownership, wellness trend in the U.S., in the vein Our July stories by Jessica Ostrov about “Why politics, people. We also operate as if we of yoga and meditation. It is a concept Green Spaces Are White,” as well as Kelly were superior to nature because we have that was named Shinrin-yoku in Japan Gryting’s profile of 105-year-old kayaker developed the tools to derive our paper in 1982, which roughly translates to Pat Marble, quickly became two of our products from trees, extract technology “taking in the forest atmosphere.” most popular stories by online readers at womenspress.com. bits and fuel from rock, control the flow After so many executives died of of water, and more. heart attacks, Japanese companies We’ve extended our Reader Survey a few Nature, however, delivers floods, began to prescribe taking in nature more weeks, to continue getting feedback wildfires, hurricanes, quakes, tornados, for physiological and psychological about the content in these pages that most and plagues. When the climate shifts, health. The scent of certain plants and interests you. What you’ve told us so far our tools are powerless against its force. trees, for example, are thought to have about popular content categories Our attempts to harness energy healthful benefits. 1. Conscious Mind (health and well-being) 2. Go See Do (calendar events) and chemicals largely introduce My friend explained the term “gentle 3. Act Now (activist stories) contaminants into what we breathe and complexity” as nature’s ability to remind 4. Bookshelf (stories related to books) drink. Indoor and outdoor pollution us that there is a wholeness in which we 5. Ism Schism (stories of disparities) leads to cancers, brain development are embedded — an ever-present space If you haven’t taken the survey yet, please issues, asthma, and emphysema. where we belong. visit tinyurl.com/MWPreaders Ignoring nature also hurts us. An In this issue, we explore how our Environmental Protection Agency environmental and political climate Join us at Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, and survey revealed that Americans spend is heating up, particularly around Instagram: @mnwomenspress 87 percent of their time indoors, and the mining issue that has statewide 6 percent in an enclosed vehicle. Our repercussions. It is part of an ongoing September theme: “Story” increasing stress — our need to be busy, story we are telling in Minnesota largely inside — leads to heart disease, Women’s Press — how do we enact This is a big storytelling issue for diabetes, and migraines. A 2015 study change in polarized communities? us. We want many submissions at Stanford found work-related stress As part of an interconnected tapestry from our readers. Who are you accounts for up to $190 billion in health (March), can we practice self-care and what do you believe in? care costs alone. (May), enjoy the communal nature of Send up to 150 words or a visual to Humans create a harsh environment food (June), and make ourselves and [email protected] for ourselves. We also pay the price. others feel at home (July)? Deadline: August 10 Women continue to find ways to call An antidote? out the unhealthiness of the “divide October theme: “Voice & Vote” Nature restores our energy, when and conquer” way of life. May we allow we let it. That is one reason Amazon ourselves in the coming months to also We want to know: “What matters headquarters is creating an enormous immerse in the holistic sights, smells, most to you in this upcoming biosphere work space in downtown textures, tastes, and sounds that nature election?” Send up to 150 words or a visual to [email protected] Seattle, featuring 300 plants from (currently) provides for us. Deadline: September 10 around the world. 4 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 READER RESPONSE What Change Do You Seek?
Make Everyone Count Vote on Climate Change As a second-generation immigrant I was visiting a refugee camp in woman of color, the census is at the core Rwanda in 2005. Th ousands of people of all that my family came to the United were there, the consequence of the 1994 States seeking; a good education for my genocide. Th ey still live there today. siblings and I, an opportunity for a good Th e genocide in Rwanda was swift job, and a home. — 100 days — and brutal; more than Many of us don’t realize how 800,000 people perished. Some say that important the census is to realizing that it was just another ethnic confl ict in Letter writer Edrence Yalley sent this image American dream. Census data is used Africa, but the story goes deeper. of her daughter with a “It’s Cool 2 Be Kind” by our state and federal government — Rwanda had been plagued by drought poster as part of her submission below. and businesses and banks — to decide in the years right before the genocide. Be Kind how and where to invest resources that Th e country couldn’t produce enough impact opportunity and quality of life. food, and people were starving. We’re all looking for change. Change Let’s care about having a complete More than half of all Rwandans were in our lives, in this country, and in this Minnesota census count for 2020. It’s consuming less than the famine level of world. What can we do individually to about more than just numbers. 1600 calories a day. make a diff erence collectively? — Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera, Th e Rwandan government incited its Make decisions about what’s best for Common Cause MN followers to blame their hunger, anger, us: self care isn’t about being selfi sh. It and frustration on Rwanda’s Tutsis. Th e means we are being kind to ourselves in result? Genocide. order to help others. Tax Equity Read books. Make better decisions Tax all women [and men of color] Global warming causes ferocious fl oods, droughts, hurricanes, and other about the food we put in our bodies. Talk at the same percentage that represents about emotions more — fi nd a friend, the discrepancy of income paid to disasters. Bad leaders blame vulnerable minority groups for unstable economic coach, spiritual advisor, therapist. white men. Sometimes our emotions cause us to So if I, as a white woman, earn 78 conditions and food accessibility, instead of facing the challenge to our mess ourselves up fi nancially — we buy percent of what a white man earns, I things to feel rewarded, to feel validated. get taxed at 78 percent of the rate he planet. Th e change I seek? In the upcoming Spiritually, we all want to live life with does in our income bracket. If I were a purpose. Th e change I seek is more black I think that would be 64 percent, elections, vote for candidates who take climate change seriously. unity, development, equality, justice, and 58 percent if I were Latina. The and compassion. We can’t change the short, snappy way to say this: Tax — Ellen Kennedy, WorldWithout Genocide.org world unless we change ourselves. Be women at the same rate we’re paid kind to yourself and others. — Trina Porte — Edrence Yalley
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 5 READER RESPONSE Come to Aid of Waters Superheroes to Protect the Planet My State of Mind on Values In Minnesota, snow would fall and, When I was growing up in the 1970s, From out of the blue it occurred to when spring came, the melted waters the world was changing for the better. me: “What if everything I ever believed would seep, then journey in three Th e cartoons I watched on TV had about right and wrong, truth and lies, directions. Mississippi fl owed south. superheroes, such as Superman and were all contrived ideas, made up in my Red River and the White Iron Chain Wonder Woman, fi ghting pollution and mind? Could I change my mind at any both fl owed north. St. Louis joined the the greedy big business owners creating time? Does that mean anyone, of any Great Lakes and fl owed northeast. it. Protecting the planet was the right political party or religious affi liation, Th e lives of these rivers were guided thing to do. Th e earth is our home, can see nuances diff erently, from day by the seasons. In summer, the frozen humanity needs to protect it. to day? If my thoughts are malleable, north gathered cold to itself so the water Now, we have seen a huge shift to aren’t theirs too?” ran free; in winter the ice extended to putting the needs of corporations to I posted an article on social media us. Small creatures — frogs and otters, make money above all else. Th e biggest about why we need mandatory paid fi shes and turtles — lived through the problem is nuclear power, the most parental leave. My childless single winter because ice and snow blanketed dirty energy ever. Fukushima has been friends thought it was a bad idea. I them until spring. spreading radioactive contamination didn’t let their reactions bother me the Minnesota is losing its protective worldwide since 2011, with no end in way it might have before. Other people’s blanket. What will the waters and their sight. Even when nuclear power plants thinking has nothing to do with me. creatures do? Grief wells up. are working well, we still have nowhere Disagreements are not personal attacks. Winter is failing. May we gather our safe to keep the radioactive waste. Th ey are just thoughts in the moment. courage, come now to the aid of winter Th e change I want is a return to the I am free to stand up for causes with a and its water. —Renae Hanson superheroes, and real-life leaders, who clear mind, rather than from a place of protect the planet so the greedy don’t disgust, knowing that everyone is acting More Reader Response at make our planet uninhabitable. from their own thinking in the moment. womenspress.com — Sheryl Senkiw — Patty Tanji
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6 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 think
Personalized fitness programs to help Dana Sikkila on her 900-mile bike tour you live stronger and healthier. Project Bike Dana Sikkila set out from Mankato in June for a 900-mile • Improve Strength bike tour, advocating that every person has skills and wisdom to share, and ideas that grow and sustain their communities. • Increase Energy Traveling with a bike, trailer, and fi lm crew, she connected • Reduce Stress with Minnesota artists, learning what motivates them to create art. Th e tour included visits with 15 artists, in places KARI LARSON, CPFT • 763-473-4840 such as Brainerd, Crosby, Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Owatonna, Taylors Falls, North Branch, Kasota, and the Twin Cities. KariLarsonFitness.com A reception and fi lm premiere will be held October 5, 7-9pm, at 410 Project in Mankato (523 South Front Street), and on October 20 at Hennepin Th eatre Trust in Minneapolis. Both events will exhibit art collected on the bike tour. Details: #410projectbike, the410project.com When Women Are at Seats of Power Th e Guardian reported on the attempts of Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, to convince the European Union that migration is a common challenge to be met collectively, rather than decided by individual countries. Italy and Malta had turned away 630 refugees on board a rescue ship; one Italian leader referred to refugees as a cargo of “human fl esh.” Th e prime minister said his new majority-female cabinet is one reason for changes in Spanish government. Th e cabinet was the result, he said, of the feminist strike in Spain on March 8, when its society came out against gender-based violence, the wage gap and in favour of pay and work equality for women. “Th is government is the result of that demand.” Primary Voting Details Early voting for the August 14 primary has begun. Find your sample ballot by zip code, including everything from school board candidates to county sheriff options, as well as how to register and how to vote by mail. Details: myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 7 Column
Fresh Off the Boat
PPHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PPHOTO written by Tess Galati
y little brother and I huddled against Mother’s body, clutching fi stfuls of her skirt. Th at morning we had seen Mthe Statue of Liberty, from her feet up. We watched men take all day to unload the baggage from the boat, before all the immigrants were conveyed to the inspectors.
Mother said America didn’t want sick, her skirt more tightly. lady how we put it in the armpit. bad, crazy, or stupid people coming in, Inside the huge room, everything was Th e lady looked even more disgusted, so we had to stand up straight. We knew loud, fast, frightening. A procession but she did what Mother showed her. not to cry. of immigrants frantically circled the “It’s all right,” Mother whispered in Th e immigrants with “DP” on their enormous pile of bags in the center. Greek, her arm protecting me. “Th ese tags were from nowhere. Th e war People were pulling out bags, throwing people don’t know any better, so they’re had erased their countries. Displaced suitcases aside, calling across the room. acting like animals. We’ll show them.” Persons. We were not DPs. We were “Th e Americans will think we’re Greek. Father was already in a place animals,” Mother mumbled. Tess Galati is a 77-year-old Ellis Island immigrant called Boone, Iowa, so we felt lucky. Th e inspector didn’t tear up our from Greece. At age 17, she was sent back Inspectors in dull uniforms frowned trunk and throw all our belongings on to Greece to be married, but escaped. She eventually earned a PhD in Language and at a growing stack of papers written the fl oor, like he did another family’s Literature from the University of Oregon. She in a language we could not read. We ahead of us. So we could go on. “What then did post-doctoral work in psychology guessed the papers told them how much do they do to us next?” asked Mother. and founded Hamline University’s counseling to question, probe, and search, because Somebody said they look at your body. center. After working in academia, she founded that’s what they did. At the top of the stairs, a man looked Practical Communications Inc., and consulted All morning, we had watched from over our papers and pointed us to one of with companies for 37 years. She is founder the deck while men below carried the lines. “What does this mean?” asked of Nasty Woman Coach, “because the world needs strong women.” Her book of poems, bags and trunks from the ship across a Mother, but nobody answered. I felt safe “Holy Trinity: Maiden, Mother, Crone,” explores gangplank to the land that was America. because Mother knew what to ask. the life phases that women enter and resolve Everyone was anxious to see a trunk or We were led to a tiny room with a big to discover their hidden wholeness. bag they recognized. lady in a white dress sitting at a desk. While we waited, we exchanged She didn’t like the way we smelled, even addresses and information. “Th ey’re though Mother had washed us the night going to look in your eyes, so wash them before in the sink next to the toilets. Th e before you get off the ship.” “If they give lady stuck a stick into my mouth and you a fl ag, don’t use it as a cushion.” looked into my ears. I stood straight, “You’re going to a cold climate, so put like Mother told me. Th en the lady newspapers inside your kids’ clothes to grabbed my arm and, in a quick motion, keep them warm.” pulled me over her lap and pulled down Th e stairs were narrow and steep, and my pants. I screamed and pulled away the gangplank was slippery, so Mother when I realized she was going to put carried my little brother. a thermometer in my butt. Mother Tess with her mother and brother I kept my eyes on my feet and clutched stopped her. She politely showed the on their one-way passport
8 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Education Guide
Education Guide
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Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 9 Education Guide PHOTO BY CRAIG LASSIG
My Career in Manufacturing Submitted by Ashley Plouff Ashley Plouff at Northern Brewer
hen I was growing up in in my brain, without pre-set boundaries Th e operations managers were early Milwaukee, I didn’t realize and instructions. in their careers, with limited knowledge Whow much I loved to solve In 2011, I was hired by Northern of lean manufacturing — a systematic problems and create order. Brewer — a company that started in method of minimizing waste witout Th roughout high school and for 1993 as a supplier of products to people sacrifi cing productivity. some time aft er, I worked in retail, who want to brew beer at home. When I wanted to become more effi cient and where I had to build displays to a I joined, the company was in a period of knowledgeable in this type of work, and specifi c outline set out in a planogram transition, because of booming growth so in 2014, I enrolled in the University of — a visual representation of the store’s in home brewing. Its operations division Minnesota’s Manufacturing Operations products. It wasn’t until I got to my was experiencing growing pains. Th ere Management (MM) undergraduate current job that the training wheels were ineffi cient processes that led to program. Currently, I am the only came off and I conceived planograms scrambling to get the orders out. female in the 14-student program.
10 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Education Guide
Th e MM program has helped me see how my interest in organization is a strength that allows me to succeed in lean manufacturing. I am getting a solid foundation in successful manufacturing practices, and I’m learning essential tools for employing lean principles. I started putting my education to use at work, helping Education Guide Northern Brewer “kick it up a notch.” Doing things the right way, instead of the easy way, was an essential step. Leading Go to womenspress.com for links to these advertisers' websites. by example, I tended to fi nd an area that could be organized better and, in a down time, tackled those challenges. For example, people working in production were running all over the warehouse to grab this thing or that item. Th e tools for the job were not near where the work was done. Simply put, I moved those items closer together, and organized them in a way that made sense. Now all the builders have every item for their product line located on racking no more than fi ve feet from where they are creating. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to identify waste in a system is to ask “why” when observing a process. When you ask people why they are doing something a certain way, sometimes the response is “because that’s how we have always done it.” To me, that’s a red fl ag. It means the builder does not know why they are doing what they are doing. Th ey are not invested. Perhaps the process has not been thought about critically. Th at means there might be room for improvement.
I believe women should be much more involved in operations management. There is a signifi cant lack of women in this industry.
One reason for this lopsided representation might be the misconception of what manufacturing is, rather than realizing what manufacturing can be. Th e MM program curriculum off ers insights into many manufacturing industries, including microprocessors and medical devices. There is a traditional view of manufacturing as harsh and labor-intensive, when really, it can be a progressive place where people innovate and push the bounds of operational excellence.
Ashley Plouff has been with Northern Brewer for nearly seven years, where she is Senior Operations Manager. She is scheduled to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Operations Management from the University of Minnesota.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 11 PHOTO KELLY GRYTING KELLY PHOTO
As with any complex issue, there Why Is Mining in Northern get a better understanding of factors are multiple reasons people have the Minnesota an Issue in 2018? involved in this contentious issue. perspectives they do. Our childhood backgrounds, economic situations, and Th e Duluth Complex is described There are concerns that the by PolyMet Mining Inc. as one of the general life priorities diff er. People who mining issue could impact align with each other on many issues largest undeveloped mineral deposits in the world, with more than 4 billion tons important November mid-term can fi nd their values vary signifi cantly election results. on others. of copper, nickel, and precious metals. Th at is the story surrounding Politically, some are in favor of the proposed mining projects in northern mining jobs that can be created in a Our mission at Minnesota Women’s Minnesota. For many, it is confusing struggling economic region. With voter Press is to help women inform each why mining would be allowed so close support needed in November, one other in deeper ways. As we will to the watersheds that impact tourism concern is that upsetting constituents explore at our next MWP Conversation, dollars of the Boundary Waters Canoe who need jobs could reduce votes for October 16, about “Using Voice & Vote,” Area Wilderness, the safety of wild rice candidates that challenge mining eff orts. how do we make signifi cant systemic and fi sh, and the places where toxicity In a community that has traditionally change about complex issues, and levels already disproportionately aff ect been Democratic, yet saw a large number communicate with fellow voters about children in the Lake Superior region. of votes preferring the Republican controversial topics? For others, there are economic Presidential candidate in 2016, the Step 1 is here, in our pages. Connect arguments in favor of mining that make gap between many job-seeking voters about the reasons lawmakers, fellow sense. Th ose same arguments seem and environment-oriented voters is a voters, and activists have the diff ering unconvincing to others. contentious one. viewpoints that they do. It might make Some Minnesotans are hopeful that it easier to have a conversation about local jobs could be created for long- Why Is This a Woman’s Issue? what the solutions might be. term mining employment, and that Traditionally, mining has been Step 2 happens with you. Are you a environmental regulations could be exclusively the domain of men: the woman with a personal story to share enacted for safekeeping from pollution. decision-making around its use, the with voters and candidates about how Still others point out that the mining jobs, and the disposal of toxic material. the mining issue impacts you? Send to track record has historically been poor Today, however, there are more women [email protected]. in both instances, and there is no reason involved in leadership and advocacy. We’ll be updating our website to trust it will improve now. We’ve talked to a few of them — some and sharing stories on social media quoted and some for background — to platforms at #MWPMining.
12 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Heating UP It’s About Money Twin Metals, which is owned by Chilean mining company Antofagasta PLC, is a few years away from fi nishing a proposal to develop a $2.8 billion underground mine. A 2014 report indicated that it would operate for 30 years and could create 850 full-time jobs, plus construction and support jobs. Th e PolyMet Mining Corp.’s open-pit mine cleared the environmental review process in March 2018 and now needs to secure important permits, such as for water quality and dam safety. See the “Money Matters” section on page 16 for some of the economic factors that favor mine development. It’s About Trust News stories and history have led to several areas of mistrust. Can corporations prevent environmental disasters? Can they work sustainably and with integrity in the community? Is the project able to honor past commitments? Nancy Schuldt, a biologist and aquatic ecology scientist, put it this way in an interview with MWP writer Jenn Hyvonen:
“Minnesota has a history of non-sustainable exploitation of natural resources, like fur trade, timber clear-cutting, and mining.” Several miners mentioned a single Hillary Schuldt also pointed out that Native people were used as guides for exploration before being forcibly removed. Treaties were Clinton comment about clean energy as the supposed to ensure that future Native generations have the right to reason for their support of Trump. “We’re hunt, fi sh, and gather from those lands and waters, in perpetuity, going to put a lot of coal miners and coal “which we believe legally obligates the federal government to make companies out of business,” Clinton said healthy, sustainable resources available and protected.” during one campaign stop. Miners across the Schuldt added that the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand country took it as a personal slight, evidence Portage Bands do not oppose mining, “but rather believe that of a Democratic Party pandering to a radical, mining should be done in a responsible way that meets regulations politically correct environmental fringe. and minimizes environmental impacts.” “They’re preaching to us about global It’s About Votes warming when these elites are fl ying around From another perspective, political strategists have looked at the the world in their private jets, burning more changing landscape for Minnesota voters. In 2016, Donald Trump fuel in a day than we did in a year,” [one voter] carried far more counties than Hillary Clinton in the state, which told me. “People living in a gated community is one reason the 2018 mid-term elections will have heavy dollars telling us how to live our life! A lot of people invested to reach voters. woke up to that this election.” At stake: Th e Governor’s offi ce, the seats of U.S. Senators, and all U.S. House seats, including an 8th Congressional district seat. Th e — from “In Northern Minnesota, Two Economies latter district includes progressive environment-oriented voters in Square Off : Mining vs. Wilderness,” The New York Duluth as well as pro-mining voters on the Iron Range. Obama Times, Oct. 12, 2017 (https://nyti.ms/2z2M2Dr) won the district in 2012. Trump led it by 15 percentage points in 2016, carrying precincts not won by Republicans in 80 years.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 13 Heating UP It’s About Environment
ish, rice, and the circulating air could based resident Elanne Palcich, a retired be impacted by sulfide mining. teacher who writes opinion articles about F According to the 812-page Final the topic. Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Palcich laid out the scope of the plans: for the Polymet Mining Corp. project, the “PolyMet Mining Inc. has proposed to dig growth and viability of wild rice can be three open pits, in what is now the Hundred impacted by elevated sulfate concentrations. Mile Swamp in Superior National Forest. Teck Polymet created a pilot plant to show Resources has a deposit adjoining PolyMet. regulators it could meet the wild rice Twin Metals/Chile-based Antofagasta has standard using treatment technologies by plans for an underground mine under the extracting harmful metals from water used nearby Birch Lake and a facility bordering the in the processing. According to Polymet, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. membrane filtration will “remove sulfate and The operations would become one giant metals from water to below water quality sulfide mine district.” standards before it’s discharged into the She does not trust Polymet’s ability to environment during operations and closure.” safely remove toxic residue. “PolyMet plans The company also indicates that, when to treat plant site water with Reverse Osmosis mining efforts conclude, “waste rock with (RO) when the mine closes. However, if the highest sulfur content will be returned to adjoining mine operations intend to use the empty mine pit for underwater storage, PolyMet’s plant, closure would be postponed where the potential to weather and oxidize indefinitely. RO is very costly and the track is greatly reduced. This higher-sulfide record appears to be that it is not effective content rock represents about 6 percent on the scale of such mining. PolyMet has no of the total waste rock that will be mined. specific plans for what to do with the toxic Extensive testing demonstrates that the other residue that would need to be cleaned from 94 percent of waste rock is not capable of the RO filters.” generating acid.” Palcich adds, “I am surprised that U.S. Details: Polymetmining.com Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith tinyurl.com/ybygat97 are jumping in to assure that PolyMet gets permitted. When women lose their deep- On the Other Hand seated connections to water and life, we lose MWP writer Jenn Hyvonen talked to our way as humanity. The struggle for power Iron Range-based women who have been represented by the push for sulfide mining in engaged in the mining issue, to learn northeast Minnesota represents all that is the about environmental concerns from their worst within us.” perspective. One of them was Chisholm-
“After dumping 67,000 tons of taconite tailings into Lake Superior each day by the 1960s, the [Silver Bay Taconite] plant became the focus of a bruising, decade-long pollution lawsuit. Taconite’s seemingly miraculous technological and engineering feats were possible only because they shifted the costs onto the environment. When those costs could no longer be ignored — as when spreading taconite tailings began discoloring Lake Superior — people reassessed the overall costs and consequences of industrial development.” — from “Taconite Dreams: The Struggle to Sustain Mining on Minnesota’s Iron Range, 1915–2000,” by Jeffrey T. Manuel
14 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 It’s About Science reported by Jenn Hyvonen
istorically Minnesota’s lands have been mined for its iron deposits, as taconite mining. Extraction of precious metals would be part of the state’s first sulfide mine. The impact of mining on environmental resources, locally Hand globally, has not been good — with destruction of usable land, toxic watershed spills, higher rates of mercury found in children, and long and expensive environmental clean ups. Cloquet-based biologist and aquatic ecology scientist Nancy Schuldt is a Fond du Lac Water Projects coordinator who specializes in toxicity research and watershed hydrologic modeling. She offered this perspective on the science behind the environmental concerns.
“Adding sulfate to a wetland Q: How is the newly proposed The wastewater of sulfide mining is more can not only produce toxic levels copper-nickel (sulfide) miningtoxic than taconite mining, but taconite different from Minnesota’s existing wastewater is also polluted. of sulfide, but also increase the iron ore (taconite) mines? surface water concentrations of Sulfide mining extracts precious and Q: Are there processes to clear nitrogen, phosphorus, mercury, strategic minerals, like copper, nickel, pollutants and contaminants from and methylmercury.” silver, and gold, from the Earth’s rock and wastewater and rock? — study reported in Journal of sediment. Chemically these minerals are Wastewater is recycled in plant Geophysical Research, November 2017, bound with sulfur within the rock, thus processing, then slurried into a basin, written by Minnesota scientists the term ‘sulfide ore.’ When the ore is where it seeps out of purposefully blasted and crushed, sulfide is released “leaky” tailings dams to ensure structural and exposed to air and water. Upon stability. Tailings basins themselves exposure, the sulfide waste becomes are considered “treatment systems,” to “Preventable safety blunders by sulfuric acid, a compound highly toxic avoid certain requirements, but the only the pipeline operator Enbridge to humans and aquatic life. The process treatment they provide is some settling and lax regulation led to the also releases dissolved heavy metals, of the fine tailings solids. disastrous 2010 rupture and oil such as mercury, in toxic concentrations. spill in the Kalamazoo River in Taconite is a low-grade, iron-bearing Q: What protections prevent leaks? Michigan. The pipeline spewed ore that is similarly blasted and crushed, Minntac has installed collection systems 843,000 gallons of highly and then concentrated to make higher- outside the dams, and is pumping seepage grade iron pellets used for steelmaking. back into the tailings pond, but they polluting oil sands crude into the Both types of mining create footprints only capture about 50 percent. PolyMet river. The cleanup has cost more of permanently destroyed habitat and proposes to install seepage collection than $800 million so far.” leave waste in the form of tailings systems outside the tailings dam, but — The New York Times, July 2012 [waste rock that has been blasted claims of nearly 100 percent capture are and separated from precious metals], not supported by evidence. contaminated water, air toxins, and dust.
Persistence of Mercury “Researchers examined dozens of core samples Mercury pollution is common in Minnesota and found more mercury from past mining is waters. A 2012 Minnesota Department of Health sticking around in local waterways than they study found one in ten babies along the North Shore thought. The findings could have implications for of Lake Superior are born with unhealthy levels of mercury in their bodies. Mercury can impact a industrial sites around the Great Lakes.” child’s ability to learn and process information. The — “The legacy of mercury in Lake Superior,” research by Minnesota Biomonitoring Program is studying the Michigan Technological University, amount of mercury exposure in newborns in some published in Journal of Minnesota communities. Great Lakes Research, 2016
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 15 Money Matters Mining by the Numbers
Economic reasons are the primary driving force pushing forward projects that are potentially harmful to water and air. “We need these jobs in our town to survive,” said Babbitt mayor Andrea Zupancich in 2015. What story do the numbers tell? $96.5 million 360 Production tax in 2017 from existing mines in Minnesota. Number of longer-term miners expected to be employed Funds are distributed to a variety of state programs, by Polymet, with an additional 600 temporary construction such as: $19 million to Iron Range school districts, jobs that last 18 to 24 months. Switzerland-based Glencore $38.8 million to Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, PLC has been a primary investor, projected to earn $350 $11.3 million to property tax relief. million annually. Source: Star Tribune, 4/10/13 Source: Mining Tax Guide 2017, available at tinyurl.com/MWPminingrevenue 3,944 The number of Minnesota mining jobs in 2017, a number 2017 Average Wage that has fluctuated greatly. Mining: $89,492 (2.8 percent of regional jobs) 1910: 19,918 General: $43,056 (averaged in 142,984 total jobs) 1979: 13,267 Source: Department of Employment and Economic 2009: 2,687 Development, Quarterly Census of Employment 2017: 3,944 and Wages, for Northeast Minnesota Source: Annual Report of the Inspector of Mines, St. Louis County, 2017
16 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 “With the federal position abandoning environmental protection, it feels important to locally protect our natural resources. But folks also are worried about how that protection might eliminate future jobs. The science says new mining is a short-term solution with catastrophic long-term costs. But no viable alternative has really been presented to address the financial impact of not mining. It feels like IRON RANGE RESEARCH CENTER, CHISHOLM, MN CENTER, CHISHOLM, RESEARCH RANGE IRON CARL O. PEDERSON PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION, COLLECTION, PHOTOGRAPHIC PEDERSON O. CARL Women employed in the Arrow factory made men’s shirts. we keep tarrying on the wrong half of the problem: the part where we ask if mining is bad Women’s Employment in Mining Country for the environment. It is. So what do we do instead?” — Anna Tennis, Duluth voter The Summer 2018 issue of Minnesota Historical Society Quarterly features the story of the economic history of northern Minnesota’s mining region. In the 1920s and 1930s, with labor-saving technologies and Where Did Norway’s Profits Go? the Great Depression, the mining workforce in Minnesota The “resource curse” tends to happen in communities was reduced from 12,000 to 4,500 employees. Massive iron where one industry dominates and many employees don’t ore production during World War II temporarily restored want to train in jobs that don’t pay as well as the dominant jobs, but it spurred a new crisis in the late 1950s. Mines shut industry. Many businesses are unable to launch or stay open. down. Forty percent of the mining workforce lost their jobs. Norway is one country that specifically placed its oil boom Municipal governments struggled to function with dwindling revenues in The Petroleum Fund. According to The Globe tax revenues. and Mail, “Norway was very aware of the finite nature of The Arrow factories employed largely women in four petroleum, and didn’t waste any time legislating policies to factories that opened in the mid-1940s. Not everyone saw manage the newfound resource in a way that would give the need: Said a former mayor in the area, “How are we to Norwegians long-term wealth, benefit their entire society and solve male unemployment by hiring women?” Much of the make them competitive beyond just a commodities exporter.” profits went to New York headquarters. The owner reportedly Today the fund has more than $1 trillion in assets, worth opposed benefits to women who took maternity leave. about $195K per Norwegian citizen. Said Marie Amelie, an Oslo tech writer, about the resulting The company “preferred locating in areas proliferation of the country’s startup culture, especially without alternative employment options. The labor in education technology, “Norway is a country where the surplus allowed it to pay lower starting wages.” ‘American Dream’ is actually possible. You have a lot of possibilities here.” Sources: The Globe and Mail, “What Norway did with its Source: MN Historical Society Quarterly, Summer 2018, oil and we didn’t” (5/11/18); The Economist (9/21/17); USA tinyurl.com/y72oqsyr Today (10/31/2015)
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 17 Grounded Winona LaDuke on the Pipeline
s leader of the Honor the Earth
organization, Winona LaDuke LLC PICKETT PICTURES PHOTO Ahas been focused for several years on the issue of Enbridge’s desire to put an oil pipeline through Native lands. She off ered these comments in a conversation with managing editor Sarah Whiting earlier this year.
Th ere’s a huge civil crisis in this country, where corporations have more rights than people. At Standing Rock, we saw how the state allowed guns and other violent methods to be used — again — to push indigenous people away from land rights to clean water. Winona LaDuke addresses an emotional crowd outside the PUC offi ces shortly after their approval of Minnesota is not North Dakota. I the Line 3 Certifi cate of Need. The paint on her face is to show mourning for democracy’s loss don’t think they are going to shoot us over the Line 3 pipeline, or mining. pretending that it makes sense. We Why waste 57 percent of our energy But last year, the Duluth police ordered should know better by now that not that is lost between point of origin and $83,700 dollars worth of riot gear for only is there limited economic value, point of consumption? It’s time to retool 2018, and another $41,500 for 2019. but there are debilitating consequences our economy if we are going to survive. Who are they going to use that on? to the lakes and rivers everyone in What I want to see is something Th ey are going to fi ght for it, and we’re our state depends on — for life, for more similar to the effi cient economy going to defend our water and way of recreation, for food. they have been building for years in life. Th ey already have six pipelines in Th e Boundary Waters miningGermany. European countries like northern Minnesota and my position is proposals have the same backwards Germany and Scandinavia have about that six pipelines is enough. thinking about solutions. Th ere, they 50 to 60 percent more effi ciency than we are mining for 0.01% or 0.02% copper. do in the United States. How long are An Old Economy It’s the bottom of the barrel. Th ere’s we going to compete if we remain stuck It makes no sense. Why would we more copper in a landfi ll in Duluth than in the old ways? destroy our water? We’ve got to quit there is in that mine. Get over it. It’s time I’m ready to grow the next economy to move on to a more effi cient economy. — one that’s fair and clean.
18 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Action in the Pipeline Process
or several years, community members have worked together to try to stop oil pipelines from cutting Fthrough Native lands in Minnesota that are used for clean-water fi shing and wild ricing. Because of historical environmental issues from pipeline accidents — and the reaction of law enforcement in North Dakota to the Standing Rock resistance — the trust level for safety is low. Th ere is a timetable that takes into account public and state agency input, as well as legislative procedures at the federal and state level. When interested parties inevitably clash, the courts become involved in rendering decisions. For example, Enbridge applied for permits to the Public Utilities Commission for the Sandpiper Pipeline in 2013, and was granted a Certifi cate of Need in 2015 without doing an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). Aft er the Tar Sands resistance march in St. Paul, and wild rice advocates asserted 1855 treaty rights, the Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned the decision in September 2015 and required the PUC to get an EIS. Public hearings were held in 2016, and Enbridge withdrew its request. In the meantime, Enbridge’s plans for a Line 3 pipeline proceeded, with an EIS opened for public comment in 2017. In July 2018, the PUC approved a Certifi cate of Need. “BP Canada has spewed out 136,000 litres Next step: Enbridge must apply and obtain 29 federal, state, and local permits, which will take several months of a toxic mud into the Atlantic Ocean during to review. State agencies such as Department of Natural deepwater off shore exploratory drilling. The Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will incident occurred less than four months after review permit requests to determine whether resources a green light to the new drilling project, after and cultural heritage are protected properly. Construction determining that it was unlikely to cause on the pipeline can proceed if all of the permits are granted. environmental damage.” Th e Youth Climate Intervenors successfully argued that their youth means they are most aff ected by the decision, — Canada’s National Observer, June 2018 and who won the right to represent themselves in a case against the Line 3 tar sands pipeline. Details: Stopline3.org
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 19 Ism Schism PHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PHOTO
Proposed Adjustments to American History Curriculum written by Isabella Star LaBlanc
Isabella Star LaBlanc on a trail near the Mississippi River
Penumbra Th eater hosts an annual civic engagement campaign, sponsored by MPR, that invites stories about what America looks, feels, and sounds like — and what we dream it can become. Th e personal narratives reveal fears, losses, and desires. One of the women who stood out among the 2018 storytellers was Isabella Star LaBlanc, who wrote and read this.
My classmates sound like streams. Th ey take turns reciting textbook quotations. Th eir wordsre a garbled and they 1sound like a river current, swift and monotonous. I envy how easy this is for them, how light their voices sound. Because for me this class is heavy, covered like thick smoke on water. I’m the only Native kid in this school and I am reminded that school, to my grandmother, was boarding school — education that stole you from home and told you to forget your headwaters. Why do I feel that legacy in this classroom?
20 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 American History class felt like reliving a thousand of other than the fact that this country is their birthright, my old lives. we are failing them. 2 I was 17 but I felt 500 years older. So maybe I’ll write a letter I already knew I was history incarnated, treaties and And I’ll title it Proposed Adjustments to American History massacres made fl esh. Curriculum. I knew that being indigenous in America means carrying And I’ll send it to the head of school. history no one else wants to hold. In it I will describe the American history class I wish I’d And that’s why the concrete textbook felt hollow. been in. Because for every single leaded page glued into its spine, Th at every kid deserves to be in. there were ten, twenty, thirty more that had been omitted, In my class no one would feel small, discarded in mass graves and prison cells, or alone. kept out of view in museum archives. No one would feel like this country’s history means they I was tired of searching for these forgotten pages alone, are not part of carrying my trauma like a secret. of its future, So I told my teacher because my class would be a Native history class And then my principal And it would be a Black history class And then the Head of School And an Asian history class I told them that American history takes bodies like mine And a Latino history class and eats them whole. And a women’s history class. But instead of open ears and open palms Because that is my America. the Head of School hid behind a textbook and a big wooden It is Native and Black and Brown, table and said Christian and Muslim and Jewish. I don’t understand the problem. Th is is an American history class, My America is queer and disabled and poor, not a Native history class. and you can never separate those parts. Because my America is time immemorial. When I was 17 I chose silence. Its trees are tall enough to see the future, I held my truths close to my heart, I sealed them in glass so as not to crush them. to see that we are stronger than the last 500 3 years of trauma combined. But I am no longer 17, and with every year that passes and every time this country breaks my heart, My America is knowing that this land has known love I am a little less willing to accept what they longer than it has known hate. wanted to teach me, My America is learning to remember. that this history is not my history, this country not my country. Because I am no longer 17, but I am reminded of those who are. Isabella Star LaBlanc (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota) is an actress, writer, and storyteller who uplifts Native voices and underrepresented Th ose who are sitting quietly in classrooms, communities. Listen to her story, recorded by MPR, at who hope there is a country out there tinyurl.com/MWPLaBlanc with a spot for them at the table, a choir to sing with their voice. Details: penumbratheatre.org/myamerica I am reminded that if we are teaching them anything
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 21 BookShelf
Our Shared Trauma of Race submitted by Bob-e Simpson Epps PHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PHOTO
My parents were sharecroppers in someone else could rob me of who I the Mississippi Delta. Their parents thought I was. were sharecroppers. Their grandparents were slaves. I was blessed to have met I experienced the consequence my great-grandmother, who survived and cost of my Blackness. It slavery. My parents were both part of was a feeling of being invisible, large families. After they moved to Iowa, discounted, and unworthy. I where I grew up, we took many trips to the Delta and visited anyone who was came to understand that perhaps deemed kin. I was not a human being of any I come from a family of storytellers. significance or value. Bob-e Simpson Epps has worked in public Those stories capture all of who I am. health for more than 30 years. She focuses The oral history of my family is filled Today I am witnessing that same de- most of her work on African American and with laughter, joy, success, innovation, humanization in this community and American Indian children and families using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study strength, bravery, and — yes — pain. across our country, valuing some people (ACES) and brain research. When I am in Mississippi, I feel like I more than others. I see children and am home. It was there that I bore witness families separated not only at our border, to generations of the strength of faith, but through the systems designed to leadership, kinship, and community. help them. I see Black men being shot in It was there that I absorbed values that their backs as they flee from police — is A Guide to Engagement inform who I am today, about God, it possible they run out of fear for their family, education, work, and giving back lives? I hear statements made about • Read from the resources suggested on to community. I didn’t know at the time female Black leaders as if they were from the next page. • Listen to what people of color say, that I was being prepared to face what it Planet of the Apes. I don’t sleep at night. and genuinely try to understand their meant to be Black in America. My early hours of meditation and prayer viewpoints. My first teachers were my parents, guide me as I prepare for my next steps • Hold yourself and others accountable. aunts and uncles, mothers of my church, in addressing issues of race. Speak up when you hear racial slurs. and elders in the community. It was True to who I am, I don’t sit on the Videotape unjust actions on the street. from them that I learned I added value sidelines. I work to address the issues of • Get in front, stand up, take action, and everywhere I went. It was from them race. I look at the trauma each person use the sound of your voice to demand endures because of the color of their change in the treatment of all people. that I realized I was smart. • Use your political power: vote. Know I remember my first experience in skin. I talk to individuals, groups, who the candidates are and the work they public school. I can recall the raspy organizations, and communities about have done — and talk to others about sound of my teacher’s voice, the clothes how trauma plays out. I ask questions those who support equality and justice she wore, the scent she bore, how it felt that cause people to think about equity, for all. Attend school board, city council, when she touched my hair, and the pale diversity, and inclusion. This is not a and legislative meetings. hue of her white skin. new thing for me. It is what I have done She also looked at me in a way I had throughout my life. not experienced before in my five years. When I walk into schools, I see the What’s on your bookshelf? Sitting in her classroom, I was taught glow in some children’s faces. I also hear Send us 400 words about your that I brought no value, that I was not discouragement in some of their voices booklife, plus your list of 5-6 smart, that raising my hand had no — a lack of hope — and the frustration related books by women authors: effect, that my answer to a question was of not knowing why. [email protected] never the correct answer. I learned that Yes, what is the why? Do the kids feel
22 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 RECOMMENDED BOOKS as if they are not smart enough? Children know when they Do they feel as if they are are missing out — and when “White Rage: Th e treated diff erently by teachers? they are genuinely welcomed Unspoken Truth of Our Do they feel unwelcomed? Do and loved. Racial Divide,” they feel as if there is no one My work is focused on by Carol Anderson that looks like them who has historical, generational, and made signifi cant contributions multi-generational trauma, and “Why I'm No Longer throughout history? Do I fault the solutions of NEAR science Talking to White People the schools, the administrators, (neuroscience, epigenetics, About Race,” the teachers, the homes from adverse childhood experiences, by Reni Eddo-Lodge which these children and and resilience). adults come from, and the It is my belief that all communities in which they live Americans are traumatized “Why Are All the Black and play? because of race. Kids Sitting Together in I believe this is a shared Can you imagine the trauma the Cafeteria?” responsibility of us all. It is not a white child felt during slavery by Beverly Daniel Tatum a one person or one institution — seeing another human issue. It is the consequence of being chained, ripped from how environments respond to their mother’s arms, beaten, “Negroland: A Memoir,” children diff erently. and hanged? How many white by Margo Jeff erson One of my grandchildren was children have wept in recent given a homework assignment years, when they thought a friend and asked to write a number would be seized and forced to at the top of the page instead leave their home, school, and “Africans and Native of a name. I asked the teacher community? How many white Americans: Th e Language of Race and the Evolution why. I was told that the names children saw the news and heard of Red-Black Peoples, of the children were too the audio shortly aft er school 2nd Edition,” diffi cult to pronounce. Th is cook Philando Castile was killed by Jack D. Forbes teacher decided the solution to by police? discomfort was to take away the Oft en white people tell me, identities of all children. “I worked hard to get what I “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to Talk have, nothing was given to me.” I know the stories of many to White People,” students, from pre-K to college, Or, “I was not around during by Robin DiAngelo who are discounted and slavery, yet I continue to be undervalued because of the blamed for what happened stereotypes associated with the then.” Or, “I support ‘you color of their skin, their culture, people’ and volunteer in many OTHER RESOURCES and their heritage. capacities.” Or, “I am married Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes Exercise by Jane Elliott I see far too many children to a person of color and have janeelliott.com/ of color form a cocoon around mixed race children so I know Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University themselves in response to how what it is like.” developingchild.harvard.edu/ they are received in the systems All of this may be true. My in which they live and learn. questions to white people are: Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, Centers for Th is starts at a young age. Th ey What do you do when you Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov are exposed to racial trauma hear remarks that demean in health care, food access, another human being? Have Article, “Th e Cost of Racism to White People and Why Th ey Should Care About Racial Justice” education, justice, government. you stood up for a person who tinyurl.com/ybu8zfxy What do they see on television is treated differently? and in the news? Minnesota’s Children 2017 fact sheet tinyurl.com/yavl76v9
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 23 Learning Life PHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PHOTO
How to Re-Align Our “Normal” submitted by Rebecca Cramer
Rebecca Cramer in front of the Bdote Learning Center, where she volunteers
few years ago I bought the of history. to educate the public about justice book “An Indigenous Peoples’ I also appreciate the role that Native for native peoples and about natural A History of the United States,” by tribal members and leaders play in the resource management for the future. Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, which was environmental movement, before and Using the reverent language of Native a 2015 American Book Award winner. I during the Standing Rock encampments, cultures, the two groups have been had not heard of her or the book before, as water protectors and as role models. working toward greater respect for but I was curious. Idle No More and Black Lives Matter Grandmother Earth for decades. As someone who was a college student speak to the violence against people of When I came across Dunbar-Ortiz’s in Boston/Cambridge — when Howard color, and to the Earth. book, it felt to me like something was Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United In Minnesota, Honor the Earth and moving and more people were involved States” was popular — I understand the the White Earth Land Recovery Project in these issues. value of reading ‘dissenting’ perspectives have been in the forefront, trying After I finished the book, my thoughts
24 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 I don’t think we will be able to accomplish any meaningful change if we don’t understand how greed, and dominance of humans over other humans and over the natural world, is the foundation of our society. were much more profound and deep, thoughtful people in the United States along these lines: The mainstream today wonder why gun laws are so culture in the U.S. will NEVER BE hard to change. Especially given all the ABLE to grasp the significance of, nor accumulated statistics on gun deaths to grieve, the destruction that human daily, due to domestic arguments, “civilization” is inflicting on the accidents, road rage, and mass biodiversity of Earth, on all life, if we shootings. Why are fear and inertia — the cumulative community of the preventing laws and regulations that United States of America — cannot would govern the number and types face our history. of guns people can legally own? A majority of our leadership laid Dunbar-Ortiz’s latest book, “Loaded: waste to the pre-European-contact A Disarming History of the Second civilizations, brought about the Native Amendment,” explains where gun law genocide, and caused the bondage of reformers have it wrong, what the Bill DETAILS people in slavery. of Rights actually says about personal • Northland Sustainable Solutions, Those of us reading this essay can gun ownership. Her talk will explain sustainablenorthland.org • Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (pictured say that we know intellectually that the how gun ownership today has its ties above), will be in Minnesota to speak modern developed world is literally to theft of the land from indigenous on Thursday, September 27, about destroying the basis of life on Earth. people and control of slaves. “The White Supremacist Roots of the We can say that we know that we must Native genocide is still happening. Second Amendment.” Reception, wake to that in our minds and in our Tribal governments still have to fight 5:30pm; lecture, 7pm. First Unitarian hearts. for standing in the courts. Indigenous Society, 900 Mount Curve Ave., However, I don’t think we — as a sovereignty still is not acknowledged Minneapolis. country and as individuals — will be in the public consciousness. able to accomplish any meaningful The Civil War is still being change if we don’t understand how fought. African-Americans are still greed, and dominance of humans over discriminated against in the courts, other humans and over the natural by law enforcement, and in the world, is the foundation of our society. workplace. To build something new, and to get We can pretend we have progressed. to where many of us say we want to But the same story is unfolding every go, we truly have to understand and day — simply with different words in acknowledge and face our history as a different news channels. nation. We need to be listening to different It wasn’t until after I read Dunbar- storytellers and doing self-reflection Ortiz’s book that I realized how even work as a country so that we can begin progressive, enlightened me had a the long overdue process of healing long way to go to understand what and repairing the traumas of our past. needs to happen next. Our “normal” deeply needs to be re- That’s why I am one of the people aligned. who is bringing Dunbar-Ortiz to Minnesota on September 27 for a talk about “The White Supremacist Roots Rebecca Cramer is a retired biomedical of the Second Amendment.” scientist who is serving on the board of She is specifically talking about why Northland Sustainable Solutions.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 25 WOmen Going Places Guide
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26 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Women Going Places Guide
36 Years, Women WHITING SARAH PHOTO 12 submitted by Joy Osborn
or 36 years, I have been having adventures with the same group of 12 women. Most recently, we returned Ffrom our annual July weekend in Wisconsin. Our deep connection fi rst started when a small group of us went to the north shore of Lake Superior in the early 1980s. Or was it the time some of us tried to get out of the Twin Cities in an old Toyota but got stuck on the freeway in a torrential downpour with no wiper blades? Aft er we shared a stash of oatmeal bread, new connections were made. Or was our formation as a collective community of women set when we had our fi rst summer weekend together at Izatys Resort — including skinny dipping by moonlight? Some of us knew each other in college. Some connections were formed aft er college. Our original group name was ‘Craft Club,’ as many women in the group enjoyed craft ing and it was our purpose for getting together at the beginning. Th at fi rst year in 1982, Carol cross-stitched each of us a tree ornament. We still celebrate Joy Osborn’s wine holder and apron were the Christmas holiday every year, as some in the group still made with her Craft Club Community share homemade gift s with others. Aft er that, every fi rst baby received a quilt consisting of No matter what, for more than 36 years, individual squares made by members. we have been present in each others’ lives: Over time, it was suggested that we add the name ‘Carafe babies to graduations, pet stories, Club,’ to the group, since many members were no longer occupations, celebrations, milestones. involved in craft -making. Some have emerged as leaders. Meredith, for example, likes Th ere has been shared support during diffi cult life situations: to search out places for us to stay on our annual weekend — health crises, family concerns, and personal adversity. Th ree we call her our CEO, Chief Entertainment Offi cer. Everyone of us have had struggles such as breast cancer. takes turns hosting birthday parties and other events. Aft er a lifetime of sharing work-life balance stories, many Some of my fondest memories include dancing on Friday of us are now in retirement. Th e 12 of us — whether by travel, nights, except that time someone sprained an ankle in the phone, or Facebook page — off er connection, encouragement, eff ort. Other favorites include removable tattoos during an and comic relief. annual weekend happy hour, the yearly dice game with goofy Personalities and quirks are periodically front and center. gift s, wearing matching club t-shirts, cooking experiments, We have learned to ride out those situations and let people be marshmallow fi ghts, making funny videos, and simple walks. who they need to be. We also have serious conversations about current and It’s a mystery how it works so well, but it does. Th ere’s a heart political events, the changing world, and our place in society. that beats in this band of women that feels bigger than any Some of us participate together in women’s events. individual. Th e group provides a loving space and steadfast connection for each of us. I feel blessed.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 27 WOmen Going Places Guide Women Going Places
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FRIDAY 8/3 & SATURDAY 8/4, Ely Dance 8/16-18, Vernacular Dance Refl ections on Water Th e Rhythmically Speaking is a multimedia dance 10/2018 performance marks ten production using photos, years of original works by artists videos, poetry, and who have been inspired by live music. Th e story, vernacular dance — developed which features new organically through everyday music composed for the culture. Dancers include Laura production, begins with Selle-Virtucio, Leila Awadallah, birth in the bog and Melissa Clark, Karla Grotting, ends with swimming Jolene Konkel, and Emma to the other side of life. Marlar. Artistic Director Leila Awadallah is an emerging $10. 7pm. Vermilion Erinn Liebhard will present Palestinian-American dancer Community College Fine a new work. 7:30pm, with and choreographer based in Arts Th eater, 1900 East additional 2pm performance the Twin Cities. Her creative Camp Street, Ely. Details: on Aug. 18. Th e Southern work builds “connectivity with ancestry as it lives in the body’s [email protected], Th eater, 1420 Washington cellular memory.” @waterefl ect Ave. S., Mpls. Details: rhythmicallyspeakingdance.org
8/16 to 10/7, Racism and Housing 8/16-10/7, A Picnic Operetta Inspired by Mining PHOTO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS OF LIBRARY PHOTO
Mixed Precipitation Th eater Company presents “Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County: A Picnic Operetta.” Th e show is directed by Kym Longhi, and sets a Shakespeare comedy alongside contemporary questions about industry, job creation, and the environmental impact of capitalism. A small town on Lake Superior is in trouble “Owning Up: Racism and Housing in Minneapolis” is an when a taconite plant goes bust, but three working wives exhibit that demonstrates the lasting eff ects of structural “show the men in town who’s the boss.” Suggested donation discrimination and aims to counter the enduring idea of $10 and up. Features sweet and savory bites of Minnesota Minneapolis as a model metropolis. Th e exhibit is part of harvest. Various locations and times around the state. Details: “Racism, Rent and Real Estate: Fair Housing Reframed,” 800-838-3006, mixedprecipitation.org a series of local events in the Twin Cities marking the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. Opening reception Aug. 23, 6–8pm, free with Museum admission. RSVP and details: 612-870-1329, hennepinhistory.org
30 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 GoSeeDo
SATURDAY 8/18, History on Two Wheels Look for the Minnesota Women’s Press magazine at these events in August • Renegade Theater Company Presents: ‘Lizzie’, July 26 - 28, Aug 2 - Aug 4, Aug 9 - Aug 11 • Tweed Museum of Art Presents: In Solidarity: Revolutionary Women of Print, now - Aug 26 • The Global Big Latch On with Health Foundations Birth Center and Blooma, Aug 3 • ‘A Day Retreat For Women’ Series by Mary White, Aug 4 • Womens Veterans initiative - Display and Lunch and Learn, Aug 6 • FEW: Workation Woman: Living and working abroad while keeping your day job, Aug 8 • “Notable Women” Walking Tour in Minneapolis, Aug 8 • Needlework Guild of Minnesota’s annual retreat, Aug 8 -12 • Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County: A Picnic Operetta, Aug 16 - Oct 7 Th is special overnight bike ride includes a tour of African • Marriage Geek Workshops American historic sites in Minneapolis, led by Major • MN Women in Networking (WIN) Events Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota. It isn’t a race, but it is • Art of Counseling Workshops a long ride. Required registration. $65 per person. Details: • MN Women in Marketing & Communications (MWMC) brownpapertickets.com/event/3487334 Workshops & Events • Irene Greene, MSED Workshops & Events • CanCan Wonderland Events • Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) Events • Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute Film Series • Women Leading in Technology Events • Second Saturday Divorce Workshop for Women • PACER Center Workshops and Events • NAWBO-MN Events • League of Women Voters - South Tonka Events • Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota Events • Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) Events • TeamWomenMN Events • Business Development Mastermind Group Events by Rich Chicks
See womenspress.com for more details about these and other events.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 31 GOSeeDo Minnesota Fringe Festival reported by Sheila Regan
he Minnesota Fringe Festival is the annual mosaic of dance, music, comedy, and more, with shows of every kind, performers of diff erent backgrounds and abilities, and an imaginative range of topics. Here are a few of Tthe women-focused options. Visit Fringe Central at the Red Stag Supperclub for socializing aft er each day of performances, which is a good way to hear about sleeper hits and surprises of the festival. Details: minnesotafringe.org
She says “Enough!” Itchy Tingles COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO MCKAYLA MURPHY MCKAYLA PHOTO
Dancers from the faith-based One Dance Company say Heidi Arneson is a veteran artist at the festival. Her “Enough!” to sexual violence and patriarchy with this work. performance features gothic humor about childhood and Where: Augsburg Studio, 625 22nd Ave. S., Mpls. classical guitar. When: Th u., 8/2, 8:30pm; Sat., 8/4, 4pm; Wed., 8/8, Where: Rarig Center Xperimental, 330 21st Ave. S., Mpls. 10pm.; Sat., 8/11, 4pm. Sun., 8/12, 8:30pm. When: Th u., 8/2, 7pm; Sat., 8/4, 5:30pm; Mon, 8/6, 10pm; Wed., 8/10, 8:30pm; Sat., 8/11, 7pm.
Minnesota Women’s Press Powerful. Everyday. Women. Using Our Voice & Vote - October 16, 2018 Details and registration: mwpconversationvoiceandvote.eventbrite.com MWP Conversations
32 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Experience Haiti!
Haitian dancer and choreographer Djenane Saint Juste, Artistic Director of Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music
and Arts, brings her dance works PHOTO COURTESY from the Haitian dance tradition for this presentation, with a large cast of dancers and live music. Where: Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Avenue, St. Paul When: Th u., 8/2, 6pm; Sat., 8/4, 3pm, Fri., 8/10, 7:30pm; Sat., 8/11, 1pm, Sun., 8/12, 12pm.
Medusa
Th ere are two Fringe productions about Medusa this year. Th is returning outdoor version, by Vox Medusa and Infi ammati FireCircus, features fi re, contemporary dance,
COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY original music, and video. Where: Logan Park, 619 13th. Ave. NE, Mpls. When: Fri., 8/3, 8:30pm; Sat., 8/4, 8:30pm; Sun., 8/5, 8:30pm; Th u., 8/9, 8:30pm, Fri., 8/10, 8:30pm; Sat., 8/11, 8:30pm; Sun., 8/12, 8:30pm.
A Gertrude Stein Christmas Revolt of the Beavers Th eatre UnBound presents a new work that riff s off Playwright and producer Kit Bix is back with an of Gertrude Stein’s rarely performed experimental play, adaptation of a Federalist Th eatre Project play, about labor, “Turkey and Bones and Eating and We Liked It.” inequality, and organizing. Where: Augsburg Mainstage, 625 22nd Ave. S., Mpls. Where: Mixed Blood Th eatre, 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. When: Sat., 8/4, 7pm; Sun., 8/5, 5:30pm; Mon., 8/6, When: Fri., 8/3, 8:30pm; Sun., 8/5, 2:30pm; Mon., 8/6, 8:30pm; Th u., 8/9, 10pm; Sat., 8/11, 4pm. 7pm; Wed., 8/8, 10pm; Sat., 8/11, 5:30pm.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 33 Nominate a CHANGEMAKER
Know someone who is making a diff erence? Our annual Changemakers issue honors individuals and organizations in Minnesota whose actions during 2018 have promoted greater equality, justice or self-determination for women and girls. Help us identify the Changemakers in your community, whether they are well-known or unsung heroes. Let us know your Changemakers’ names and contact information (telephone, email, snail mail address), and a short description of their actions that promote change in the world for women and girls. Include your name and contact information, too!
Nominate a MAKERCHANGE Nominations are due Sept. 15.
Go to surveymonkey.com/r/MWP2018Changemaker
MINNESOTA WOMEN’S PRESS POWERFUL. EVERYDAY. WOMEN.
34 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Just for Kids Guide Just Backpack TLC For bbie Nelson
(AN, right), 18, PHOTO COURTESY kids Awas diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes See these ads in 2013. Pia Phillips online with links at (PP, left ), 17, is in womens press.com remission aft er a year of treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma stage 2A. Together they founded PAB’S PACKS, a non-profi t that creates comfort backpacks for teenagers with chronic illnesses — including a fl eece blanket, stress ball, chapstick and lotion, fi dget spinner, and more.
Q: Why did you start this business? AN: When I was in the hospital I had constant love, support, and comfort from my family. Yet, even with all the support I had, it was inevitable to feel the gap of comfort. I realized that if I felt that way, many other teens would feel the same way. PP: At the end of the day, what humans truly crave is connection and love. When you are in the hospital it is easy to feel isolated and lonely. I felt a need to let other kids know that they are not alone. Q: Since your start in 2014, how has the business grown? PP: From our fi rst handout in 2015, at Children’s Hospital Minneapolis, where we donated 50 backpacks, we have now handed out more than 3,500 and partner with 19 camps or hospitals across the nation. Q: What’s next for you? AN: Pia and I will both be headed to college in the fall. We are super excited about our Teen Ambassador Program, with eight high school kids who will be doing the work of PAB’S. Q: Why is helping others so important to you? PP: I feel that philanthropy is an essential part of life, especially if you have the privilege to give back. No matter how big or small the impact, we have the ability to make good things happen in the world. AN: Some of the littlest actions can have great impact. Th e people we met, the memories we made, and the amount of support given to us has been amazing.
Abbie Nelson plays competitive lacrosse and tennis for her high school, and loves printmaking. Pia Phillips is an artist and tennis player. Both women were honored in Washington D.C. in June at the 2018 Jeff erson Awards Foundation National Ceremony for Outstanding Service by a Young American 25 or under — a program started by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to celebrate those who serve and lift up others — and empower others to do the same.
Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 35 Classified Ads
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36 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 Classified Ads
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Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018 37 Art of Living
Regan Golden: Edgelands Interviewed by Sarah Whiting
egan Golden uses drawing and altered photographs to represent ecological change in the American Rlandscape. Most recently she has been working with urban plant life to off er a unique take on the green spaces around the Twin Cities.
Depicting “Edgelands” I grew up near the intersection of Highways 280 and 94. We used to play in this grassy area alongside the railroad tracks. It protects the neighborhood from the pollution of the highway, fi ltering the air, and sheltering it from the traffi c, the railroad yard, a cement plant. I’m interested in the way these spaces conceal something people don’t want to see. Th ese spaces are interesting to me because they are so persistent. Th ey’re hanging on when everything else has been clear-cut, and they Regan Golden, Prairie Construct no. 124, July 24, 2017 are not cared for at all. People dump stuff in there, there’s no one weeding it, no one pulling out the invasive plants. It’s just a free-for-all, where the strongest survive. Th ey are oft en full Balancing Art and Motherhood of nasty plants. Th ere’s no path. You’re stepping over the tires I started making a work about plants in St. Paul when I was that someone dumped in there, and poison ivy — and then home every day with two small kids. I looked out literally to you see a lady slipper plant growing there. the landscape that was outside of my house, which was a small swatch of nondescript scrub brush. I also found that when I The Eff ect of Science was home with kids, I was losing track of time. I couldn’t tell you if it was Wednesday or Sunday. Every day was the same. One of the grants I received was from the National Science So the plants helped me keep track of time. Th ere’s a kind Foundation for long-term ecological research, and that was for of synchronicity between the time of taking care of toddlers the work I did at the Harvard forest in western Massachusetts. and the time of plants. I would like to think it helped me to Th ere was a frustration among some of the scientists about be more aware of the changes in my kids. It helped me to be the way artists depict that landscape – perfect rolling green more alert and more present. hills, very beautiful. Th ey were not pleased with that view Details: regangolden.com of the world because they see the forest as something that’s constantly changing, always evolving, never perfect, and Regan Golden received a 2015 Jerome Foundation Fellowship for never in balance. Th ey shared my frustration with traditional Emerging Artists and a 2017 Minnesota State Arts Board Grant. landscape photography that depicts the world as this perfect, She was recently an Artist-in-Residence at the College of Biological untouched place where everything is in perfect equilibrium. I Sciences Conservatory at the University of Minnesota. She is currently never want to make pictures that depict that, because it is not Visiting Faculty in Painting and Drawing at the Minneapolis College of my experience of these landscapes. Art and Design.
38 Minnesota Women’s Press womenspress.com August 2018