Haha Wakpadan / Bassett Creek Oral History Project

Eric Buffalohead (Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma) moved to St. Louis Park in 1979 when he was in the eighth grade. He lived there until the mid-1990s, and later returned to the West Metro by purchasing a home in Plymouth in 2016. His three children attended Breck School in Golden Valley. In 2023, Eric is the chair of the American Indian, First Nations, and Indigenous Studies department at Augsburg University. He is also the lead guitarist of Bluedog, a band he co-formed in 2001 that has been nominated for several Native American Music Awards. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

David Wilson (Dakota) lived in Golden Valley from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. He attended Meadowbrook Elementary School and graduated from Golden Valley High School. David’s grandmother lived on Medicine Lake, and he remembers the area as being open and beautiful prior to development. David is a musician and has also worked in the construction industry. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Sydney Beane (Dakota) moved to Minnesota and purchased a home in Plymouth in 2003. In the 1970s, he was trained as a community organizer through a Robert F. Kennedy Fellowship. He has since served in many roles, including as co-founder of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), Chair of the Board for Little Earth, and an advocate for recognizing Indigenous place names. Sydney is a lifelong educator as well as a filmmaker, historian, and documentarian. In 2023, he was honored with The Frank Blythe Award in Media Excellence for his work. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Debbi Kinaka-Williams (Anishinaabe) moved to Plymouth in the early 1980s and then purchased a home in Crystal, where she lived for 22 years. She chose the area specifically so her children could attend the Robbinsdale School District and enjoy the Robbinsdale American Indian Education Program. Debbi started the Robbinsdale drum and dance group and managed it for 9 years. Debbi is also an artist and a teacher. She helped to secure culturally appropriate curriculum and books for Indigenous students. She also advocated for starting the American Indian Studies Program at Michigan State University. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Ben Blackhawk (Ho-Chunk) moved to Crystal in 1970. As a child, he traveled to powwows across the Midwest, including at his home reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska. Ben worked for 17 years as a high school math teacher at Providence Academy in Plymouth. While there, he also directed the choir, coached the math team, and assisted with track and field. Ben earned a B.A. in Math and Music Education from St. Olaf College. In 2023, Ben lives in Crystal and teaches math and music at Epiphany Catholic School in Coon Rapids. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Bradley Blackhawk (Ho-Chunk) grew up in Crystal and attended high school in New Hope. In the 1970s, he enjoyed fishing on Medicine Lake and canoeing and trapping on the creek. He worked for the City of Minneapolis for more than 30 years, where he specialized in utility connections. Bradley shares his traditional knowledge through American Indian Education Programs across the Twin Cities. He has been a male dance instructor with Osseo School District 279 for more than a decade. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Tawnya Stewart (Anishinaabe and African American) grew up in Robbinsdale and Crystal in the 1970s. She earned an Executive MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Communications. She also received a degree in Human Resources from Loyola University Chicago. Tawnya has worked for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures since 2016, where she is the Chief of People and Culture. In 2023, Tawnya lives in Golden Valley and advocates for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Jim Rock (Dakota) taught astronomy, chemistry, and physics at Wayzata High School for almost 30 years. He also spearheaded a summer program at the University of Minnesota called Andogiikendassowin / Wasdodyawacinpi (Seek to Know), which introduced students to Indigenous ways of knowing that combine science, music, sacred sites, waterways, and experiential learning. Jim and his wife, Roxanne Gould, continue to support Indigenous-led projects like Makoce Ikikcupi (Land Recovery) from their home in Golden Valley. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Cathee Vick (Anishinaabe and Dakota) grew up just blocks from the creek in Crystal during the 1960s. She has excelled as a Housing Advocacy Program Manager for Little Earth Residents Association. She is also an independent contractor and provides American Indian housing training across the nation. Cathee serves her community through her outstanding knowledge and skills in American Indian housing, employment, and real estate laws. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Grant Two Bulls (Oglala Lakota) attended Breck School in Golden Valley. As a high school senior, Grant won the 2015 regional competition of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society for his work measuring the ecological impact of a Mdewakanton village on Bde Maka Ska. In 2023, Grant serves as co-president of the Native American Law Students Association at Georgetown University, where he continues to do outstanding work.  In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Dr. Samantha Majhor (Dakota and Assiniboine) grew up in suburbs like Minnetonka and Plymouth. She graduated from Wayzata High School and earned her PhD at the University of Minnesota. Now, Dr. Majhor is an assistant professor of English at Marquette University, where she focuses on Native American literature. In 2022, she was named one of Wisconsin's most influential Native Leaders for her research and community engagement. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Dr. Roxanne Gould (Grand Traverse Band Odawa and Anishinaabe) moved to Golden Valley in 2004. She is a retired associate professor of Indigenous and Environmental Education at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an original member of the Indigenous Women's Water Sisterhood. She also serves on the governing council of Makoce Ikikcupi, an organization that supports land recovery. Roxanne is a leader in the field of Indigenous Educational Design. She has dedicated much of her life to improving her community in and out of the classroom. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Benjamin Yawakie (Anishinaabe and Zuni) attended Breck School in Golden Valley and served as the first Indigenous member of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. He is a policy practitioner and legislative advocate with experience in community engagement and policy development and implementation. He also served as president of the Humphrey Students of Color Association, a research assistant at Public Health Law Center, and as a coordinator with the Compact Implementation Program in Montana. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Diane Wilson is a renowned Dakota writer and educator. She has published four award-winning books, including "Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past." She previously served as Executive Director for Dream of Wild Health, an Indigenous non-profit farm, and at the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, a national coalition that's creating sovereign food systems for Native people. For more information on Diane Wilson and her work, visit https://www.dianewilsonwords.com/about. In Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota), Indigenous people have lived, worked, and played near Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ (Bassett Creek) for thousands of years. Through an oral history project, 15 Indigenous people share how they experience the watershed as part of their historic and contemporary cultures. These interviews were conducted by Dr. Kasey Keeler with support from Valley Community Presbyterian Church (VCPC) and partners. To learn more, please contact Hennepin History Museum (https://hennepinhistory.org) or visit VCPC’s land acknowledgment webpage (https://www.valleychurch.net/land-acknowledgement).

Our first episode features Dr. Kasey Keeler, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Keeler is interviewed by project co-lead Crystal Boyd about the Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ / Bassett Creek Oral History Project. Dr. Keeler teaches both Civil Society & Community Studies at the School of Human Ecology and American Indian & Indigenous Studies. She is the author of American Indians and the American Dream, a book about the intersection of federal Indian policy and federal housing policy. Funding and other support was provided by the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, Hennepin History Museum, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, and the University of Wisconsin. This publication was also made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.