Wokiksuye – In Remembrance & Witness
Wokiksuye pronunciation: [woh – GEEK – sue – yea]
Please join First Peoples of Mni Sóta Makoce for official public memorial ceremony in collaboration with the Good Family, mourning all those lost in this occupation
Open to All Walks of Life who will Stand with us in Peace & Prayer – Nawajin en Wodakota k’a Wocekiye
DETAILS:
Saturday February 7th 2026
12pm Start gathering
1-3pm Memorial ceremony led by Arvol Looking Horse followed by community-led singing, poetry and more
Location: Powderhorn Park
Children warmly welcome Music • Art • Tipis
Please wear sparkles, glitter, and glam!
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CONNECT & CONTRIBUTE:
Volunteer There are many ways to support and contribute to this gathering,
INDIVIDUALS connect here
ORGANIZATIONS connect here
Contribute If you are able to contribute resources towards the memorial please donate through this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/goodmem
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GUIDING PURPOSE & INTENTION:
Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (7 council fires) organizers are offering Renée and Alex’s families a circle to hold them in this immeasurable loss. This public memorial ceremony will be led by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle, a globally beloved peace leader.
Together we will form a circle to practice witnessing our collective power. Our power includes grieving together, protecting each other and remembering that we shine brighter when we act together. On the coldest days we create warmth and energy by drawing closer. We circle up to build the muscle memory required to move fear and stress through the collective body and to sustain the courage to keep showing up in our city day-after-day.
We extend a special invitation to those who have witnessed Renée or Alex’s deaths, to those who have witnessed other state sanctioned violence, and those who have witnessed or survived ICE abductions. If this is you, this ceremony is meant to hold you with witness, protection and comfort.
To witness is an act of love and protection.
Renée was a witness.
Alex was a witness.
We are all witnesses.
We stand in witness to Keith, Heber, Victor, Parady, Luis, Geraldo, Silverio and to the many lives lost already this year. We stand with the families whose lives have been torn apart. We stand witness to the multitudes of us, linked, standing together affirming the dignity of every life taken, and our shared commitment to fight for every one of us.
Open to All Walks of Life who will stand with us in Peace & Prayer – Nawajin en Wodakota k’a Wocekiye. We are not defined by where we have been, but by how we show up today. If you come ready to turn away from harm, witness life, protect one another, and stand together in love, there is a place for you here. Join us!
Grief belongs in public.
Renée sparkled like sunshine.
Come shine with us!
Who is bringing this memorial together?
This moment in Minnesota is fueled by neighbors, friends, families, and regular people standing up and saying “no” to the kidnapping of our neighbors. We are moving within trusted relationships and new connections forged under pressure. This memorial is being planned in that same spirit of protection. While organizations offer support, the vision and labor for this memorial has grown from people in relationship with each other: friends, family, chosen family, and movement family - coming together to offer something beautiful during a time of grief. Each part of this memorial is offered with love and a commitment to the world we are building beyond this moment.
In collaboration with: NDN Collective, Braveheart Society, Indigenous Protector Movement, American Indian Movement, Freedom Trainers, Sunrise Movement, Project South, and many others.
Gratitude to organizations, local businesses, neighbors, and so many others who have contributed to this memorial: Indivisible Twin Cities; Slamhammer Audio; Twin Town Pedicabs; Powderhorn Park; Minneapolis Park Board; Algorithm; ArtStart; Watson Party Rental; Women's March Minnesota; OutFront Minnesota
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AN INVITATION TO HOLD PUBLIC MEMORIALS, beyond Minneapolis
On February 7th, in solidarity with Minnesota and other occupied cities, we invite communities everywhere to practice remembrance, dignity, and collective care—whether circling with your neighbors, gathering in a park, on courthouse steps, at a place of harm, or creating a public memorial and altar to honor our lost ones.
We offer a PUBLIC GRIEVING TOOLKIT to support organizing memorial spaces in your community.
When we grieve together, we turn mourning into witness—and witness into protection. As we learn from the community practices in Minnesota, we prepare our home communities to build the necessary infrastructure that supports, connects, and protects our neighbors and our families.
We invite you to share a photo of your memorial, altar, or circle, include #InRemembrance #Wokiksuye #BeGood #ICEOut to connect to other circles of witness and remembrance.
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THINGS TO KNOW | LOGISTICS, SAFETY & COMMUNITY CARE
Arrival begins at 12:00 PM — arrive anytime starting at noon
Community gathering space will be open with music, puppets, and dance.
Water, snacks, and warm beverages will be available as supplies last.
Memorial ceremony begins at 1:00 PM
Ceremony will be led by Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Followed by community-led singing, poetry, and shared offerings
The memorial will conclude by approximately 3:00 PM,
Please depart by 4:00 PM so volunteers can clean up the space
Pack-in/Pack-out
We are a volunteer group, please leave the spaces you used better than you found them
WHAT TO BRING:
Warm winter clothing (layers encouraged)
Sparkles, glitter, and glam ✨ (wearable only)
Art to share (handheld or wearable)
Snacks, water or non-alcoholic drinks for yourself or to share
A mug for hot beverages that may be available
WHAT NOT TO BRING:
Dogs or other animals
Protest signs or banners
Loose glitter, confetti, or sparkles that require ground cleanup (Wearable sparkle is welcome and encouraged)
Drugs & Alcohol, this is a drug- and alcohol-free event
Dining nearby:
Park early, eat at immigrant owned businesses nearby
Restaurants Midtown Global Market Lake Street and Chicago Avenue
Grocery/convenience Sam’s Market 35th Street and 15th Avenue
COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS & CARE
Drug & Alcohol-Free Space We are holding this as a space for prayer, remembrance, and collective care.
Photography & Media No photography or video recording during the memorial ceremony. Clear announcements will be made when cameras and phones must be off. Outside the ceremony documentation is welcome and encouraged.
Safety & Peacekeeping This gathering is peaceful and prayer-centered. Community peacekeepers and trained support volunteers will be present. If you feel overwhelmed, unsafe, or need support, please reach out to an organizer or care volunteer.
Warming & Care Spaces Limited warming tents and tipis will be available for:
• Children
• Elders
• People with mobility or health needs
Please be mindful and share these spaces as needed
We invite you to consider reaching out to those in your close up networks and your hyperlocal group. Come to be together, to care for, and watch out for each other. If it feels good, bring snacks and drinks that you can share with each other as well. How do we honor each other’s witness? Show care for each other’s grief? It is these deeply local formations, neighbor with neighbor, that has created what is happening in these cities right now, along with generations of organizing. Help us to honor both in practice.
ACCESSIBILITY
We are committed to making this gathering as accessible as possible. Please note that winter conditions in Minnesota are unpredictable, and surfaces may be icy or changing.
Mobility Assist Shuttle A pedicab accessibility shuttle will run continuously throughout the event:
Starting at 12:00 PM
Until approximately 4:00 PM, once all those needing it have departed
Pickup / Drop-off Location: Parking lot on 15th Ave, just north of 35th Street
Shuttle will transport attendees to and from mobility-accessible seating
⚠️ The park parking lot itself will likely be congested
Please plan to arrive with a ride and do not rely on parking in the lot
Accessible Seating Limited seating will be available for those with mobility needs
ASL Interpretation ASL interpreters will be present during the memorial ceremony
GETTING THERE:
🚍 Public Transit (Strongly Encouraged)
Bus routes along Chicago Avenue and Lake Street
Enter “Powderhorn park” into the transit scheduler map for current schedules
Expect increased pedestrian traffic
🚲 Biking
Bike racks available at the park building and throughout the park
Please do not lock bikes to barricades or temporary structures
🚗 Driving & Parking
Limited street parking available
Expect congestion
Consider parking farther away and walking or using public transit
Please do not plan on parking in the park lot
WINTER CONDITIONS AND PARK ACCESS:
Pathways may be icy or uneven
Traction cleats or spiked footwear are recommended
Plowed and graveled entry routes will be available
👉 Please consult the Powderhorn Park map for best entry points
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TIPI PROTOCOLS
During Set up
Honor, Respect, Love, and be Humble with the Lodge and to yourself, others and all things in and around the Lodge
Recognize this is a Woman’s Lodge
The tipi represents the family
The covering represents the man
The pins and the stakes represent the children and the warrior societies
The tripod represents Tawacin, Nagi, Tacan (Mind, Body, and Spirit)
C’atku: The back of the lodge is the place of honor (straight across from the door)
Don’t walk over the poles
Tipi’s face inward with the exception of the main Tipi, which would face the east.
When up
If the door flap is closed, you must announce yourself and be invited in
If the door flap is open, you may enter directly
Honor, Respect, Love, and be Humble with the Lodge and to yourself, others and things in and around the Lodge