Tekakwitha Conference Letter - March 19, 2002

Mr. Thomas Ivan Dahlheimer
P.O. Box 11
Wahkon, MN 56386

Dear Mr. Dahlheimer,
Greetings to you from the beautiful white blanket of snow covering the land of Great Falls.

Your letter and articles were presented to the Tekakwitha Conference Board of Directors meeting this month.

At their request, I am responding to your correspondence and newspaper articles regarding the name change for Rum River. The members of the board commend you for your many efforts to have this derogatory name for a river changed.

The Board stated that, "though this is definitely a worthy cause for Native Americans as a whole but, it is a matter that should be dealt with the state of Minnesota and that our national organization would have no jurisdiction over state legislation".

The board members will give you prayerful support in the time, energy, commitment and publicity you have given to give this river a new name so that it be less offense especially for the Native Americans of Minnesota.

May God continue to give you a strong sense of obligation to right a wrong and to help give your people greater dignity and pride in the heritage of First Peoples of this land.

Yours truly,

Sister Kateri Mitchell

Executive Director