Minnetonka Moccasin Issues Apology For Appropriating Native Culture, Makes Commitment To Native Community – WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — On Indigenous Peoples Day, Minnetonka Moccasin issued an acknowledgement and apology for benefitting from the appropriation of Native American tradition. The corporate additionally made a dedication of assist to the Native American group.
The family-run Minneapolis firm of almost 75 years says it first publicly acknowledged the appropriation in the summertime of 2020, however that it was “lengthy overdue.” The corporate additionally dropped “moccasin” from its emblem and started referring to itself as Minnetonka starting in 2008.
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“We deeply and meaningfully apologize for having benefited from promoting Native-inspired designs with out immediately honoring Native tradition or communities,” Minnetonka mentioned in an announcement.
As a part of the corporate’s dedication to taking a extra energetic and public stance in supporting Native communities, Minnetonka says it employed Adrienne Benjamin, a Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe citizen, to be the corporate’s reconciliation advisor.
Jori Miller Sherer, Minnetonka President (Left), Adrienne Benjamin, Reconciliation Advisor (Heart), David Miller, Minnetonka CEO (Proper) (credit score: Minnetonka Moccasin)
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“My first thought in our planning was to provide again,” Benjamin mentioned. “When an organization is named out, there are at all times phrases, however actual change and energy undoubtedly begins with the redistribution and sharing of sources. Since a lot of this firm’s wealth got here from appropriation, it might solely be proper for this firm to actually make investments again into these communities from which it stole.”
Minnetonka says the reconciliation plan has 5 key commitments to the Native group, together with bettering the corporate’s variety, making updates to model language acknowledging Native American affect, design collaborations with Native artists, searching for out extra enterprise relationships with Native-owned corporations and monetary assist towards Native causes.
“We’ll proceed to maneuver ahead in a way that acknowledges and honors the Native American tradition, design, and individuals who have influenced our model and enterprise. This journey will stay necessary to our firm endlessly,” Minnetonka mentioned in an announcement.
Read more on the company’s commitment to the Native community here.
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