Pike Island - River Life

Pike Island A Place with Potential

Introduction An important place  Pike Island is located

within Fort Snelling State Park in St. Paul, Minnesota  Known as the Bdote area for the Dakota people  At the meeting of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers

Pike Island

Past History  Controversial area  As part of the Bdote, “Wita

Tanka” is a sacred place for the Dakota people.  US acquired the land in 1805  Site of internment for the Dakota people during the Dakota War of 1862

Picture of Pike Island’s Explanation of the Treaty of 1805

Present 

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A recreational area Part of Fort Snelling State Park Full of walking and skiing trails A popular “get-away” for people in the city Floods every spring – there are currently no permanent structures on Pike Island No current relationship with the Dakota people

One of the many trails on Pike Island

Potential for the place Potential for Inclusivity  Sacred place for the Dakota

people  Bdote and Wita Tanka  Improve relationships with the Dakota people  Symbolically important Potential for Sustainability  Meeting of two rivers  Observational science  Close to other science

outlets such as the U of M and Science Museum

Pike Island Located near Fort Snelling Historical Site, within Fort Snelling State Park, and along the meeting of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

Our Project Field Station  We propose the building of a

field station that will bring together western-based science and the native knowledge of our environment  Partners from both sides of science working together to make the river healthier  Programs centered out of our field station  Multiple motivations within sustainability and inclusivity

Pike Island from the mainland

Our Project We would consider building our field station in a location like this for several reasons: -already cleared -decent distance from the river -proximity to power lines

Location We would plan on putting the Field Station more in the middle of the island as to reduce our impact on the rivers nearby. As said before, there are already cleared areas that would be perfect for this project.

The Field Station  Floating field station to

deal with flooding  Resources to study vegetation, wildlife, and water quality.  Transparent ceiling in one room for astronomy.  Educational room or visitor center http://dornob.com/prefabricated-floating-homereinvents-houseboat-design/?ref=search

How our program addresses inclusivity  Alaskan Native Knowledge 

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Network Educational opportunities – field trips encouraging kids to get involved in science, nature, history, etc. Volunteering and Internship Use of social networking Going out into the community to get people involved in the river Inclusive of all of the science communities in our regionNPS, universities, NCED, high schools, etc.

http://www.nps.gov/miss/supportyourpark/vol_e nrichment.htm

How our program addresses sustainability  Actual station built out of

environmentally-friendly materials  Meets the overall goal of working towards a sustainable river  Educate students to continue advocating for sustainability in the future

http://dornob.com/prefabricated-floating-home-reinvents-houseboat-design/?ref=search

Pike Island  In a land where, historically, western-based society has

“taken” from the Dakota people, we can start to establish a truly “give-and-take” relationship through science.  In a society where history is often blurred and people may not be fully aware, we can help our community see the importance of inclusivity all while getting people involved in our natural environment.  In a place where two rivers come together, we can bring together two different communities to work together for a greater goal.