The Dakota people reclaimed their sacred ancestral space at Coldwater Spring in South Minneapolis on September 2, 2008, and after a stand-off with police the Dakota were granted a 4-day permit, which they did not request, to perform their sacred ceremonies. Their intention is to permanently claim the land for an indigenous cultural and health center with gardens, buffalo, and a charter school. With an impending police confrontation over the land on Friday, the Dakota held a press conference at their Coldwater Spring camp at 2pm. At 3pm, the permit police issued expired but no police had arrived to expel them as of 6pm. For more information and photos taken September 3rd, see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/05/18533302.php. Chris Mato is interviewed first below, and then Jim Anderson. (Video of the press conference will be posted at a later date.)

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