Mall of America management threatens to arrest participants in Idle No More's second annual round dance celebration on Dec. 31, 2013!
THIS IS AN ACTION DIARY REQUESTING IMMEDIATE INVOLVEMENT IN WHATEVER WAY FITTING and/or FEASIBLE!
IDLE NO MORE event participants have been threatened with arrest by Mall of America management for plans to exercise freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, the secular celebration of religious beliefs in “the public square” at the Mall of America in Bloomington, IL.
From a press release issued by Idle No More Duluth
MALL OF AMERICA THREATENS `IDLE NO MORE’ ORGANIZERS WITH ARREST, PROMISES `ADDITIONAL ACTIONS’ TO `PROHIBIT… GATHERING’ IF NEW YEARS EVE ROUND DANCE PROCEEDS
The incident has been reported on here by the Northland News Center This report includes a full text of the letter received by event organizers on Dec. 23!
And here, at NativeNewsOnline.net
More below the fold.
Already last year, in an article published by the Duluth News Tribune Idle No More-Duluth founder Reyna Crow clarified in eloquently educational terms the intent and meaning of a “round dances” in the American Indian cultural context as they have found recent expression in flash mob form throughout the country and the world:
A flash mob is a large group of people who gather, ideally in an instant, to perform a unified action in a public place, often a song or dance. In this case, participants are performing a round dance.
“The round dances were a family event,” explains Joe Sutherland, a member of the Duluth Anishinaabeg community, who is from Canada. “In the wintertime, the men in each family would sing songs. ... It was told in the creation stories that the spirits communicate through songs. This is why we carry these traditions; this is why we sing today.”
Crow is co-founder of the
Northwoods Wolf Alliance in Northern Minnesota , with a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin, and is founder of
Idle No More Duluth.
.
Already in January of this year, Crow went on record (see above) clarifying the nature and intent of the round dance flash mobs organized by Idle No More:
The round dance is a wonderful and unifying experience to either observe or participate in, and the planned jingle dress dance is truly a gift from the Anishinaabeg community to all people of Duluth. We should not only embrace this gift of healing, but join in the spirit of hope, for a better future for all of us, in which it is intended.
And points to the mutually beneficial exchange with retailers in the events' ability to generate publicity and stimulate revenue: it's a win-win between the dancers and mall patrons. As Reyna Crow points out:
There have been some reports of flash mobs held with the intent of causing violence or destruction. For the most part, however, those intended as art or political or social statements seem to be enjoyed by passersby, and have been tolerated by the management of the malls or stores where they occasionally take place. They can draw large numbers of people who tend to spend money and, if positive in nature, can bring substantial publicity to the venues.
Idle No More’s Flash Mob Round Dances at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN were some of the most memorable of dances celebrated round the world in celebration of the sacred spirit of peace
Striking about this video is the resounding response from Mall of America clientele: the roar of support is not coming from the inner circle of participants in the round dance on the lower level, but rather from the crowds gathered to observe and/or participate on all levels of the facility: patrons of the Mall of America erupt in thunders of applause in this video. Participants in the round dance on the ground floor of the mall are merely performing a round dance.
At last year’s Idle No More Round Dance at Mall of America , people of all colors, creeds, cultures and commercial orientations joined together in song to experience a secular celebration of (Native American) religious beliefs much in the same way Christmas carolers—often in exquisitely flash mob-form at major shopping centers, transportation hubs and other public places throughout the country, and indeed throughout the world.
Despite the success of last year’s event, Reyna and several of her colleagues found an unexpected lump of coal beneath their trees this year: a letter from the management of the Mall of America threatening the arrest of participants in this year’s planned event.
The planned event was never designated as a protest, or a political statement, but, in the letter from Mall of America management, the grounds for arrest are predicated on the erroneous characterization of the Round Dance is a political event—a protest even. But it isn’t, it is every much as legitimate a public expression of secular religious celebration not unlike the small sampling of similar events I have posted below from other ethnic groups, nationalities and traditions—just for fun!
Not unlike public Kwanzaa celebrations currently underway in the US, the round dance flash mobs of American Indians have the added benefit of introducing mainstream society to cultural traditions—inviting them to participate and/or simply observe and appreciate.
In response to the threats of arrest, Reyna Crow and Idle No More have invited the management of Mall of America to participate in a press conference on December 31, 2013, at 3 PM at the Mall of America.
Crow and Idle No More have issued the following press release regarding the event.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mall of America threatens arrest of Idle No More organizers if New Years Eve Round Dance occurs
December 25, 2013 at 3:19pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12.25.13
Contact: Reyna Crow reynacrow@gmail.com 218.269.2661 (text)
MALL OF AMERICA THREATENS `IDLE NO MORE’ ORGANIZERS WITH ARREST, PROMISES `ADDITIONAL ACTIONS’ TO `PROHIBIT… GATHERING’ IF NEW YEARS EVE ROUND DANCE PROCEEDS
Duluth, MN Various organizers identified by the `Mall of America’ management team as being connected with the `Idle No More’ movement have received letters from the mall indicating the mall “…will utilize additional actions… including trespassing the organizers of the protest” (emphasis added) should a flash mob Round Dance recur there on New Year’s Eve this year.
Idle No More Duluth organizer Reyna Crow was one of several people who received the letter on Christmas Eve. “The characterization of the Round Dance as a protest is not only incorrect, it is insulting”, says Crow, “If the Idle No More flash mob Round Dance that was held there last year is a `protest’, so are the Christmas carols and the other flash mob events that have been held there”.
Crow is inviting a representative of the `Mall of America’ management to join her and Patricia Shepard, who also received the letter, at a news conference at the Mall of America on December 31st at 3:00 pm. Crow plans to use the designated `free speech zone’ there to discuss her concerns that the apparent singling out of organizers associated with Indigenous people and issues for threats of arrest and/or other intimidation over flash mobs events at the mall.
Who: Reyna Crow, Patricia Shepard, Mall of America management invited and urged to attend
When: Dec 31, 2013 3:00 pm
Where: Mall of America
What: News Conference and Rally
Why: To respond publicly to Mall of America’s threats to arrest Idle No More organizers, and the unequal treatment of Indigenous organizers in ceded territory.
As if to add insult to injury, the Mall of America is situated on
Indian Land, and the threat of arrest for its use is a breach of treaty rights. According to Shepard, during the treaty-signing period, the Dakota and Chippewa ceded the territory that is now the site of the Mall of America, but the tribes retained rights to use the land for hunting, fishing and other purposes. Other purposes means to gather at any location, whether that location be private or public. The MOA location is within those treaty territories, and the MOA is in violation treaty obligations to the Dakota and Chippewa by threatening to trespass us on our ceded territories. As Shepard rightly asserts:
“We have a right to gather anywhere within those territories which was agreed upon by the US Government “. Treaties matter.
Here’s what you can do to help—any support you may be able to lend on any one of these matters or others would be greatly appreciated:
1. Show up at he Press Conference and MOA on the day of the event
2. Call MOA and voice your concerns...Twitter your concerns, mail the MOA management team
3. Provide legal assistance in the event arrest, attorneys, bond money
4. If someone could set up a paypal account would be good for the contributions...
5. Send out the press release, articles and letters of support to Reyna Crow and Myself we need the support...
Post Note (from Grumpelstillchen after a long period of silence):
One unanticipated gift received from composing this article was the opportunity to view many spectacular flash mob events from performances throughout the seasons, the country, and the world.
I spent the afternoon on whirlwind tour of finding flash-mob meaning in madness and post here only a sampling of what I found:
Little Drummer Boy
Wells Fargo NYC Flash Mob in Times Square
Hallelujah Chorus (with drums)
I really enjoyed this performance in Calgary:
Irish group in Calgary mall
But you don’t have to travel the world to find flash-mob beauty blessing the halls of malls: in nearby Burnsville, MN, 200 singers joined in this mall Food Court Flash Mob.
Hallelujah
This Kwanzaa celebration in front of Macy’s was among my favorite stations on the tour:
Now, if the Mall of America needs a stunning example of using cultural tradition to express a POLITICAL statement or “protest” in the form of a flashmob—My hats go off to this group of talented, truthful and inspiring ...
Steppers at Walmart
**
The spirit of the round dance, and many other public expressions of American Indian and other indigenous traditions is to assert their dedication to the protection of the planet that is now imperative not only to the survival of indigenous people/s, but to all peoples—and to any prospect of peace in our lifetimes, or anyone else’s.
This is why we celebrate a sacred season of peace.
Judging from the video posted at the outset: a majority of patrons of the Mall of America were visibly enthralled by last year’s celebration. This calls into question Mall of America’s claims that celebrations of Native American culture are anything but a benefit to the patrons, retailers and visitors to the mall.