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On April 6, 2005 the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, a state-wide Minnesota daily newspaper, published the following letter to the editor.

Let's rename the Rum River

I founded and am spearheading the international movement to rename our state's Rum River. A book published by the Minnesota Historical Society states that the river,s current name is a "punning translation" that "perverts the ancient Sioux name Wakan" (Spirit). Because of greed for casino money, I believe, both the Shakopee and prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota communities have lost due respect for their traditional culture. Therefore they have not yet given their support for the effort to rename the Rum River. The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community and the Upper Sioux Community have given their support for the effort to rename the river, as has the Minnesota Historical society's Indian Advisory Committee and the United Nations. Thomas Ivan Dahlheimer Wahkon




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