The Cultural Meaning of Coldwater Spring: Final Ethnographic Resources Study of the Former U.S
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THE CULTURAL MEANING OF COLDWATER SPRING: FINAL ETHNOGRAPHIC RESOURCES STUDY OF THE FORMER U.S. BUREAU OF MINES TWIN CITIES RESEARCH CENTER PROPERTY, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA GSA RFQ NO. 71599 Prepared for: The National Park Service Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Prepared by: Summit Envirosolutions, Inc. and Two Pines Resource Group, LLC FINAL REPORT June 2006 THE CULTURAL MEANING OF COLDWATER SPRING: FINAL ETHNOGRAPHIC RESOURCES STUDY OF THE FORMER U.S. BUREAU OF MINES TWIN CITIES RESEARCH CENTER PROPERTY, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA GSA RFQ NO. 71599 Prepared for: The National Park Service Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Suite 105, 111 Kellogg Blvd E. St. Paul, MN 55101-1256 Prepared by: Summit Envirosolutions, Inc. 1217 Bandana Boulevard North, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108 1774-001 and Two Pines Resource Group, LLC 17711 260th Street, Shafer, Minnesota 55074 05-01 Principal Investigator: Michelle M. Terrell, Ph.D., RPA Report Authors (listed in alphabetical order): Mollie M. O’Brien, M.A., RPA, Penny Rucks, M.A., Michelle M. Terrell, Ph.D., RPA, Andrea C. Vermeer, M.A., RPA Technical review: Penny Rucks, M.A. Contributions by (listed in alphabetical order): Jim Anderson, Eddie Benton-Banai, Everett BlackThunder, Curtis Campbell, Andy Favorite, Gary Cavender, Jan Dalsin, Dorene Day, Elitta (Lorraine) Gouge, Jim Jones, Bob Larsen, Chris Leith, Tom McCauley, Jim Olson, Edward Red Owl, Dallas Ross, Tom Ross, Tom Sanders, Michael Scott, Michael Selvage, Sr., Carrie Schommer, Michael Swan, Leonard Wabasha, Bruce White, Joe Williams FINAL REPORT June 2006 National Park Service Statement The National Park Service recognizes that Camp Coldwater spring and reservoir located on the former Bureau of Mines property holds significant contemporary cultural importance to many American Indian people. However, the evidence presented in this report does not meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places for determining them eligible for the Register as a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP). U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center Property Ethnographic Resources Study Page i ABSTRACT During 2005, Summit Envirosolutions, Inc. and Two Pines Resource Group, LLC, completed an ethnographic resources study of the former U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center (TCRC) property in Hennepin County, Minnesota. This work was performed under contract with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). The NPS, through its Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) office, is overseeing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning process on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The goal of this public planning process is to identify and evaluate alternative disposition options for the TCRC property. This process includes the completion of an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will consider disposition alternatives and the potential impacts of alternative future uses of the TCRC property on the natural, historic, and cultural resources within the property’s boundaries. The primary objectives of the ethnographic resources study were to identify the relationships of American Indians with the land, natural resources, and cultural resources located within the boundaries of the 27.32-acre TCRC property, and to explore and document such affiliations, if present, be they precontact, historical, or contemporary. Particular emphasis was placed on the identification and documentation of any natural or cultural ethnographic resources present on the property that are considered traditionally meaningful by Dakota or Ojibwe people as conveyed to us by our interviewees. Identified ethnographic resources were evaluated for their eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) as traditional cultural properties (TCPs) within the context of American Indian history within the State of Minnesota and contemporary cultural use and to determine their status as Sacred Sites. Results will be incorporated into the EIS for the TCRC property. This study consisted of consultation, archival research, and interviews. Official responses to consultation were received from all four of the federally-recognized Dakota communities in Minnesota (Lower Sioux Indian Community, Prairie Island Indian Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, and the Upper Sioux Indian Community), and one Minnesota Ojibwe (White Earth Band of Chippewa) community. Twenty three individuals were interviewed for this study including 11 official federally recognized tribal representatives including at least one individual representing each of the above-mentioned communities, 7 key cultural experts (6 Dakota and 1 Ojibwe), and 5 other informants with knowledge of the history and past use of the TCRC property. Coldwater Spring has been identified during the course of this study as a natural spring that is culturally significant for its association with: the Mdote area at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, which is regarded as the center of all things and historically significant by the Mdewakanton Dakota; the activity of collecting spring water for ceremonial use. U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center Property Ethnographic Resources Study Page ii This study concludes that Coldwater Spring is an ethnographically significant natural resource associated with Dakota and Ojibwe traditions that use natural spring water, such as the Inipi. Natural springs, like Coldwater, are regarded as vital to the continued practice of these traditions, which have been practiced by these traditional groups for at least two generations, and that are regarded as integral to their continued existence as ethnically distinct peoples. Based on the findings of this study, Coldwater Spring is recommended as eligible for the National Register under Criterion A for its association with the Dakota cultural landscape of Mdote, which for the Mdewakanton Dakota is the center of the earth, or Makoce Cokaya Kin, and, in one belief, is also the point of their creation. The cultural importance of the Mdote area is reflected in the number of known and named Dakota cultural properties within the vicinity of the confluence. Coldwater Spring is also recommended as eligible for the National Register under Criterion C as representative of a resource type of natural springs, many of which have been destroyed or which are no longer accessible, that are an integral component in the practice of Dakota traditional ceremonies and lifeways that require pure spring water. In addition, it has been communicated to the authors of this study by an official representative of a federally recognized Dakota tribe that Coldwater Spring is a Sacred Site. In light of these conclusions, Summit Envirosolutions, Inc. and Two Pines Resource Group, LLC recommend continued consultation with Dakota and Ojibwe communities regarding the future of the TCRC property. U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center Property Ethnographic Resources Study Page iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We extend our appreciation and respect to the Dakota and Ojibwe and non-native people who took the time to share their traditional knowledge, stories, thoughts, ideas, and feelings with us about the place where the former U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center (TCRC) is now located. Some had to drive many miles and many had to take time away from important priorities in order to speak with us. We were honored by the opportunity to listen and learn - and we were moved by what we heard. We are grateful that so many came forward with their voices which will shape the future of the property. For this, we are thankful to the following people (listed in alphabetical order): Scott Anfinson; Jim Anderson; Eddie Benton-Banai; Everett BlackThunder; Curtis Campbell; Gary Cavender; Jan Dalsin; Dorene Day; Andy Favorite; Elitta (Lorraine) Gouge; Jim Jones; Bob Larsen; Chris Leith; Tom McCauley; Edward Red Owl; Dallas Ross; Tom Ross; Tom Sanders; Michael Scott; Michael Selvage, Sr.; Carrie Schommer; Michael Swan; Leonard Wabasha; Bruce White, and Joe Williams. The traditional knowledge that was shared by the interviewees is the foundation of this report. The synthesis, analysis, and recommendations made in this report are based on this traditional knowledge along with relevant historical research. It is our intent and hope that this report presents traditional knowledge in a respectful and meaningful way and that the analysis and recommendations that are made based on traditional knowledge honor the thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences of the Dakota and Ojibwe people with whom we worked. We extend our gratitude to John Anfinson, Kim Berns, Mike Evans, and JoAnn Kyral for the opportunity to complete this study and assist the National Park Service by providing information for the ethnographic component of their EIS process. We acknowledge the complication of evaluating American Indian experiences and perspectives using non-native standards, language, and procedures. We anticipate that this project and report will be one more stepping stone towards working collaboratively and creating common tools for talking about the future of places of importance to American Indian people. U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center Property Ethnographic Resources Study Page iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................