Protect Valley Creek/Native Rights
Donation protected
Native Rights and the Afton Wastewater Treatment Project
www.ProtectValleyCreek.info
The St. Croix River has been known for thousands of years by the Dakota people as Hogan Wanke Kin, or “the place where the fish lies,” a reference to a legend originating from—among other places—the well-known Wisconsin sandbar known as Catfish Bar (pictured right), directly across the river from the mouth of Valley Creek and the City of Afton, Minnesota. In June 1883, the archaeologist T. H. Lewis located and surveyed the Rattlesnake effigy mound in Afton.
The association between the presence of the Dakota in this area of the mouth of Valley Creek on the St. Croix river, and the Catfish Bar legend that provided their name for the river, is all the more significant given that the Afton Rattlesnake effigy and Catfish Bar lie across the river from each other and—a little further to the west on the Afton side—the tips of Native American pointing trees stretch out towards both landmarks.
The point must be made that the area of Dakota cultural significance around Afton is much larger than the mound site itself. It also includes the Catfish Bar, the mouth of Valley Creek, the pointing trees, and other areas likely within and immediately adjacent to the proposed treatment facility.
The presence of the known quartet of natural and man-made spiritual markers in this small geographical area suggests this section of the river is as potentially significant to the Dakota people as Jerusalem is to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Without a full archaeological survey of the Native American presence in the area, there is a danger that an important cultural history will be destroyed irrevocably.
The Rattlesnake Mound was a main source of concern in the initial stages of this campaign, as Afton’s plans showed several sewage pipes being drilled through its outline. It appears the hard work carried out during tribal consultation with Afton appears to be moving in the right direction—preserving the Rattlesnake Mound. Afton recently announced that it would be avoiding any construction near the main body of the mound, rerouting pipes away from the mound, and having a smaller stormwater pond! Victory!
The main area of concern now shifts to the sewage drainage field planned for a hill above Valley Creek, likely to permanently destroy Native American cultural artifacts. A survey of a nearby location by Rothaus, 2008 (mentioned in Afton-contracted Blondo Consulting’s report pictured below) reported unusually high concentration of artifacts.
www.ProtectValleyCreek.info
The St. Croix River has been known for thousands of years by the Dakota people as Hogan Wanke Kin, or “the place where the fish lies,” a reference to a legend originating from—among other places—the well-known Wisconsin sandbar known as Catfish Bar (pictured right), directly across the river from the mouth of Valley Creek and the City of Afton, Minnesota. In June 1883, the archaeologist T. H. Lewis located and surveyed the Rattlesnake effigy mound in Afton.
The association between the presence of the Dakota in this area of the mouth of Valley Creek on the St. Croix river, and the Catfish Bar legend that provided their name for the river, is all the more significant given that the Afton Rattlesnake effigy and Catfish Bar lie across the river from each other and—a little further to the west on the Afton side—the tips of Native American pointing trees stretch out towards both landmarks.
The point must be made that the area of Dakota cultural significance around Afton is much larger than the mound site itself. It also includes the Catfish Bar, the mouth of Valley Creek, the pointing trees, and other areas likely within and immediately adjacent to the proposed treatment facility.
The presence of the known quartet of natural and man-made spiritual markers in this small geographical area suggests this section of the river is as potentially significant to the Dakota people as Jerusalem is to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Without a full archaeological survey of the Native American presence in the area, there is a danger that an important cultural history will be destroyed irrevocably.
The Rattlesnake Mound was a main source of concern in the initial stages of this campaign, as Afton’s plans showed several sewage pipes being drilled through its outline. It appears the hard work carried out during tribal consultation with Afton appears to be moving in the right direction—preserving the Rattlesnake Mound. Afton recently announced that it would be avoiding any construction near the main body of the mound, rerouting pipes away from the mound, and having a smaller stormwater pond! Victory!
The main area of concern now shifts to the sewage drainage field planned for a hill above Valley Creek, likely to permanently destroy Native American cultural artifacts. A survey of a nearby location by Rothaus, 2008 (mentioned in Afton-contracted Blondo Consulting’s report pictured below) reported unusually high concentration of artifacts.
Organizer
Jim Golden
Organizer
Lakeland, MN
