Dear Supporters,
The leaders and allies of the Niskithe Prayer Camp have been attempting an equitable resolution with Manzitto Construction since May of 2022. In addition to multiple attempts at resolutions that honor Indigenous Human and Civil Rights, we have also delivered this petition to Manzitto Construction twice (once in May 2022 and one in November 2022).
Manzitto Construction has not responded. Manzitto Construction has moved forward with destruction of sacred spaces. And yesterday, a construction worker attempted to run over prayer camp protectors who were peaceful, prayerful, and unarmed (please see video).
We ask the following:
IF YOU ARE IN LINCOLN, please come and stand in peaceful and prayerful support. There is a sizeable police presence arresting peaceful prayer camp protectors. We need your support in a good way. So if you cannot be peaceful and prayerful, then you will not help our cause. But if you can be peaceful and prayerful, please join. (The best address to use is 4700 S. 1st Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. This will bring you to the general location which is on S. 1st Street between Old Cheney and Pioneers).
AS PREVIOUSLY STATED ON OUR FACEBOOK WEBSITE: "We ask for all members of the community to RE-ENGAGE WITH OUR CAUSE. Please write to or call Mayor Lerion Gaylor Baird and the City Council [mayor@lincoln.ne.gov] and demand they stop all proceedings with regards to Wilderness Crossing. Demand that they allow us the opportunity to appeal the actions of the City Council and the Mayor that greenlit Wilderness Crossing. Demand that they follow the guidelines laid out in the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Demand that City leadership heed their own research and guidance to not allow development anywhere near the Salt Creek Basin floodplain.
We ask for all members of the community to DEMAND MANZITTO STOP ALL WORK on Snell Hill and engage in good-faith negotiations with Native and Environmental advocates. Remind them that we are not anti-development, but we need them to engage with us in the spirit of compromise. We ask the community to call for the preservation of Snell Hill and a significant set-back from 1st street to create a buffer that can insulate the ceremonial grounds from the new neighborhood and allow additional rainwater absorbtion to mitigate the threat of flooding. Call on them to be good Relatives, as we all strive to be.
We ask for all members of the community to DEMAND PINNACLE BANK DIVEST from Manzitto Construction for their lack of regard to human and environmental rights. At the very least they need to withhold investments until Manzitto can engage in and arrive at a compromise that the entire community supports.
As Native People we are acutely aware of the housing crisis and the shortage of affordable housing in this city. Wilderness Crossing does nothing to create more affordable housing. Manzitto and the City of Lincoln must not be allowed to continue the American Pastime of displacing Indigenous People and desecrating sacred land for profit. Not here. Not in our city. We humbly ask for your solidarity and support.
Pilamayaye. WibthahoN. Wado."