MUID Statement Regarding the Minneapolis Police Department
June 1, 2020
To All Our Relations -
We are writing to express our pain and suffering that continues to emanate from the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of former officers of the Minneapolis Police Department (“MPD”). The Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors Group (“MUID”) is a collaborative of more than thirty American Indian organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. While one arrest has been made for the murder of George Floyd, we will continue to sound the alarm and work to dismantle the ongoing and systemic racist ideologies that pervade the MPD like a virulent and lethal pathogen.
We will never forget how Native Americans have endured decades of mistreatment by MPD with no regard to our humanity. These wounds inflicted upon our community fail to heal as citizens continue to experience violence from those sworn to “serve and protect.” MPD needs to be held accountable for its institutional malfeasance and misfeasance. MPD must cooperate in the investigations of the four officers involved in the murder of George Floyd. MPD must have zero intolerance for and investigate all incidences of hate speech and activity. Although officers have a right to freedom of speech as we all do, such speech builds a foundation of systemic racism, brick by brick, within MPD.
MUID stands ready to continue to work with Chief Medaria Arradondo to create positive, sustainable, systemic change with the MPD. MUID will continue to engage with the Native community, and with all stakeholders, to create a collaborative and sustained efforts to combat these very serious issues now gravely impacting the Minneapolis American Indian population.
Wopila Tanka, and Chii Miigwetch.
Sincerely,
Joe Hobot
MUID Chair
President and Chief Executive Officer,
American Indian OIC
joeh@aioic.org
Robert Lilligren
MUID Vice Chair
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Native American Community Development Center
rlilligren@nacdi.org
Kit Fordham
MUID Treasurer
Executive Director
Mni Sota Fund
kit@mnisotafund.org
Minneapolis Urban Indian Directors
Voting Members
1. All Nations Indian Church
Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo
2. American Indian Community and Development Corporation
Michael Goze, CEO
3. American Indian Movement Interpretive Center
Clyde Bellecourt, President and CEO
4. American Indian OIC
Dr. Joe Hobot, President and CEO
5. The Circle
Cat Whipple, Managing Editor
6. Division of Indian Work
Louise Matson, Executive Director
7. Dream of Wild Health
Neely Snyder, Executive Director
8. Indian Health Board
Dr. Patrick Rock, President and CEO
9. Indigenous Peoples Task Force
Sharon Day, Executive Director
10. Little Earth of United Tribes
Jessica Rousseau, Executive Director
11. MIGIZI
Kelly Drummer, President and CEO
12. Minneapolis American Indian Center
Mary LaGarde, Executive Director
13. Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center
David Nicholson, Interim President and CEO
14. Mni Sota Fund
Kit Fordham, President and CEO
15. Native American Community Clinic
Dr. Antony Stately, CEO
16. Native American Community Development Institute
Robert Lilligren, President and CEO
17. Nawayee Center School
Joe Rice, Executive Director
18. New Native Theater
Rhiana Yazzie, Artistic Director
19. Upper Midwest American Indian Center
Gertrude Buckanaga, Executive Director
Ex Officio Members
1. Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Urban Office
2. City of Minneapolis – American Indian Community Specialist
3. Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Urban Office
4. Hennepin County Medical Center – American Indian Advocate
5. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe - Twin Cities Office
6. Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe - Urban Office
7. Minneapolis Public Schools - Department of Indian Education
8. Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce
9. Red Lake Nation - Twin Cities Embassy
10. White Earth Nation - Urban Office