The Oyate Avenue Project

The Oyáte Avenue Project

Changing a street name to build community rooted in truth and connection

Through the Civil Uprising of 2020 community members came together in many new ways forming deeper connections.  One group of neighbors who live or spend a lot of time on the street currently known as Columbus Avenue, which spans from 18th Street to 62nd Street in Minneapolis and continues to 78th Street in Richfield, found that they share a deep desire to change the name of the street.  They worked together to form the Oyáte Avenue Project.  The word Oyáte (pronounced “oh-YAH-tay”) means people or nation with a nod to kinship in the Dakota language, and was chosen by Dakota members of Makoce Ikicupi, a land reclamation project. 

The process of changing a street name requires a petition, either by ⅔ of the people who own property on the street or by the Mayor, a city Councilperson, or the Director of Public Works.  It also requires approval by Public Works, who weighs the benefit of the change with consideration for the confusion and costs of changing a street name.  The Oyáte Avenue Project kicked off in 2021 with a successful start to raising funds to cover the process of changing a street name, fee incurred by the change, and support for folks who would need to update their important documents (like IDs).  

With a successful fundraising launch for the project,  they are currently focused on seeking support for and understanding about the name change.  They note this support and understanding as vital to both their intention to center the project in truth-telling and vital to the name change process. 

“We want this project to lead to broad and intentional community education about the history of this place,” said Josina, an Oyáte Avenue Project team member.

There are lots of opportunities for community members to support the project including collaborating with the team to build up education efforts, door-knocking to foster community support (especially along the street), and event planning.  Folks can also donate to grow funding for public education.  To get involved folks can visit the project website www.oyateavenue.org