We need your input on changing the name of Sheridan Neighborhood
Who is our Neighborhood named after?
Sheridan Neighborhood in NE Minneapolis is named after Philip Henry Sheridan, a Union General in the American Civil War and General of the Army fighting against Indigenous People all over North America and most notably in the Indian Wars of the Great Plains.
He was famous for his horrendous scorched-earth tactics, for leading the extermination of the buffalo, and forcibly relocating Indigenous Peoples from their territories to reservations. Sheridan is credited with saying, “The only good Indians I ever saw were dead” which was honed into the American expression "The only good Indian is a dead Indian" which was commonly used to fuel Native genocide for decades after. It it is not recorded that Sheridan ever stepped foot in Minnesota. Read more details on Sheridan’s legacy here.
How did this start? What other groups have changed their names to cut ties with Sheridan?
Sheridan School began the process of changing their name in the summer of 2020 after learning about Philip Sheridan’s racist and violent legacy. They are actively working on co-creating a name that better represents their students. You can learn more about their Change the Name Initiative here (English & Español).
The organization formerly known as The Sheridan Story changed their name to Every Meal at the beginning of October, 2020 to better support the children and families they serve, including those from Indigenous backgrounds. You can learn more about why they changed their name here.
Why the Board of the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization does not support honoring Sheridan’s legacy:
We believe in the power of a name as it honors the legacy of an individual and what they stood for. Our community has repeatedly shown that we do not stand racism, bigotry, and violence against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We believe that our namesake must reflect both what we stand for and the community that we envision moving forward. Philip Sheridan’s legacy of Indigenous genocide is not that vision.
Quite simply, our mission says it best:
The mission of the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO) is to strengthen and celebrate the community by facilitating connections between the residents, businesses, and institutions of Sheridan. SNO is dedicated to preserving the neighbors’ strengths, identifying and helping to address the community’s changing needs, and bringing positive improvements to all.
Our strength lies in the people who make up our neighborhood, including Indigenous community members who’s ancestors may have been directly impacted by Philip Sheridan. With the goal of helping address our community’s changing needs, we are asking for your input.
Name Change Survey: We need your input!
Sheridan Neighborhood Organization is seeking community input on changing the name of the neighborhood, beginning with an online survey which will be available through December 31st, 2020. A paper survey will be made available at Eat My Words Bookstore.
We are no longer taking responses for this name change survey.
Want to get more involved? Join the Neighborhood Name Change Committee
SNO is forming a Neighborhood Name Change Committee which will begin meeting in February of 2021 and will help guide the name change process towards a final decision on whether to change the name of the neighborhood, and if so, what the final name will be.
Tasks may include attending virtual meetings, reviewing final survey results, rounding down alternative name suggestions, conducting a follow-up survey, and hosting public meetings.
Please fill out this interest form by January 31st, 2021:
What is the process for changing a neighborhood name?
Community Engagement
Online surveys, community discussions, and gathering input from those who live, work, and own in Sheridan Neighborhood. This could also include gathering name suggestions, narrowing them down, and doing a community vote on the final name.Board Vote
The neighborhood board should take all community input into account as they vote whether or not to change the name and what to change it to.City Council Vote
The neighborhood board will submit all community input, their vote. and the suggested name to the City Council who will vote on whether to accept or deny the name change.
This process has been done recently in the case of West Maka Ska (previously West Calhoun), ECCO (previously East Calhoun), and other neighborhoods.
