In the Spring of 2018, a small cluster of tents appeared near Franklin and Hiawatha Avenues in Minneapolis. The encampment grew rapidly over the summer and by September 2018, 300 to 400 people, primarily Native, had taken up residence at the camp. Throughout the Fall the number of tents continued to grow, to over 200 tents.

 

The Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) came together with City of Minneapolis leadership, representatives from the County and State and members of the Native community. Together they worked to identify immediate needs and redirect their resources in response. Community allies mobilized to direct outreach and support for the encampment.

 

WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO was created when the Bush Foundation stepped forward to support NACDI, MUID and community allies in this work. The project will examine ways Native people can achieve their self-determined goals successfully, through broad community organizing and engagement process.

 

WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO seeks to create long term strategies to address the issues which contributed to the creation of the encampment. We know that these strategies must be both innovative and community-based if they are to successfully address the historic, systemic challenges facing the Native community.