Resources

Two years ago, Friends of the Falls and the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) came together as partners with the mission of authentically centering Native voices in creating a shared vision for the future of the Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock, which today sits at the heart of Owámniyomni.

The First Season Report conveys the thoughtful engagement process crafted by Friends of the Falls, NACDI, and Carrie Day Aspinwall of CDA Enterprises to ground the project in Indigenous values and bring Native and non-Native communities together. This first season of work, from September 2021 – December 2022, might be considered “winter”, a time for connection, storytelling, and preparation for what’s to come.

Read the Executive Summary or dive into the four-part document for detailed information.

Part 1 | Native Partnership Council

Part 1 details the process to convene the Native Partnership Council, the stories they shared, and their direction for the work.

Part 2 | Community Engagement

Part 2 describes the public events, online engagement tools, and outreach to key stakeholders that was facilitated by the Engagement Team to weave broader community voices into the Council’s vision.

Part 3 | Early Design Ideas

Part 3 outlines the work of the Design Team to listen to the Council’s guidance and develop early design ideas for the site.

Part 4 | Programming & Partnership

Finally, Part 4 considers programs and partnerships to activate this place.