FARGO 鈥� The city of Fargo has hired a consultant to begin work on developing a new Native American Center that would act as a resource hub and, eventually, a gathering space for Indigenous people.
Chalsey Snyder, a member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation, started her seven-month contract as the consultant in early November. Snyder, who serves on the Fargo Native American Commission, said the center is the 鈥渂iggest interest and need in our community.鈥�
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鈥淎ny time I鈥檓 at a Native event and the question is asked, 鈥榃hat do we need most?鈥� It鈥檚 a Native American Center. Hands down,鈥� she said.
A Native American Center previously existed in Fargo, but it closed because of a lack of funds. For a new center, Snyder envisions a resource hub for Indigenous people seeking access to tribal or federal programs as well as an information center on Native American history. She also sees an eventual gathering place for events and maybe even temporary housing.
But first, she has to lay the groundwork.
Snyder plans to select potential board members, establish by-laws to apply for 501c3 status, find funders and grants, and build a network of Native American organizations.
The center will begin online, first with a Facebook page, then with its own website, Snyder said. She鈥檚 鈥渟tarting small, thinking bigger,鈥� with the hopes for an eventual building down the road as funding becomes available and sustainable.
鈥淲e deserve to have just as much recognition and pride as the Hjemkomst Center, and I think that鈥檚 a possibility,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e deserve to have a place that not only we鈥檙e proud of but that every single person 鈥� regardless of their race, culture or background 鈥� can be proud of, too.鈥�
In 2018, Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, and Guy Fox, a member of the Native American Commission, for a separate center. Their idea, with a price tag between $3 million and $5 million, would act as a cultural and health center, as well as a museum. Prairie St. John鈥檚 Hospital, where Mathern is the director for public policy, would donate the land for the proposed center next to the new behavioral health facility.
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But those plans have been on hold as Fox has been working to build up his group, Fargo-Moorhead Crossroads, which hosts the city鈥檚 annual powwow. Plus, he said he hasn鈥檛 found sustainable funding to create the center. Fox said he hopes, at the least, he could build a sweat lodge in the proposed location to help Native Americans in the healing process.
鈥淓ven though it鈥檚 in the works, it hasn鈥檛 died,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still a long play. It鈥檚 still a dream.鈥�
Sharon White Bear, chair of the Native American Commission, said that since she moved to Fargo in 2000, she鈥檚 wanted a center for indigenous people in the community. 鈥淚t just needs to get done,鈥� she said.
White Bear, an Arikara of MHA Nation who helped start the Native American Commission, had a hand in hiring Snyder to build the foundation for a nonprofit and the eventual center.
White Bear said she wants the center to be a place to welcome newcomers to the city, to offer resources to Native Americans, to host programs or events like storytelling. But she said to do it, the community has to play a part.
鈥淲e invite anybody that wants to partner,鈥� White Bear said. 鈥漈hat鈥檚 the only way we鈥檙e going to make it stronger.鈥�
Those wishing to help can reach Snyder at FMNPinfo@gmail.com .
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