How do we Heal our Relatives & Mother Earth?
Join us Tuesday, Feb. 17th for “Opening Day in a Good Way” at the Minnesota Capitol!
Minnesota’s 2026 Legislative Session Starts Tuesday, February 17th at Noon!
In the early fall, the Rise & Repair Alliance reserved the rotunda on the morning of the first day for our annual rally for climate justice & Indigenous rights to make sure to get the message out early about the dire need to protect our Water, Land, Air, Wild Rice & all of our relations.
In the time since we made this reservation… we began seeing unprecedented harms impacting our communities across the state, and we began working to figure out how to adapt our Rally to meet this moment.
And then just weeks ago, we received a request from the House DFL Caucus to adjust the timing of our rally because the first day of this year’s session will be a day of mourning & remembrance for the late House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in her home on June 14th, 2025 in an egregious act of political violence.
Given all that has transpired in over the past weeks and months…
We have adapted our planned rally and will instead be hosting Rise & Repair’s “Opening Day in a Good Way”, a gathering to bring healing to our communities.
Starting at 10am on Tuesday, Feb. 17th in the Rotunda…
We will have a large waterfall banner on display asking the question: “How do we heal our relatives & Mother Earth?”
The public, members of the legislature, our tribal government leaders & the Governor’s Office are invited to contribute to this banner by adding a message onto cutouts of Water Droplets, Fish (Walleye), and Wild Rice stalks which can be pinned to the banner.
Each cutout shape offers a question, and invites you to respond. We will have writing materials so you can add your message to a shape, but feel free to prepare ahead of time with what you would like to write!
On the Water Droplets: What are you letting go of? What will you put in its place?
On the Fish: How do we heal together?
On the Manoomin/Psíŋ (Wild Rice): How we rise and repair?
And we will sing, together.
With support from Singing Resistance, everyone at the capitol is invited to join us at 11am as we sing, “We Remember” in the tradition of Barebones Puppets, where the names of loved ones who have walked on are shared out loud while the chorus continues the refrain. We will take this time to honor the names of all who have journeyed on over this passed year.
At 11:15am, we will leave the rotunda together and continue in song as we reassemble, weather permitting, on the south steps for a community circle, honor songs and a group photo as we ready our hearts & minds for the work ahead!
On the south steps we will have our fresh run of “Protect Wild Rice” yard signs to distribute, and encourage our attendees to bring one home and place it somewhere prominent: the time is now to protect all of our relatives, and think deeply about what it means to live in right relationship as we work to build a better world for future generations.
We look forward to seeing everyone for “Opening Day in a Good Way” :)
Please RSVP & Help Spread the Word!
Below are some tools & resources to get the word out. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, Feb. 17th! Please consider sharing this page (www.riseandrepair.org/rally) with friends & family!
Facebook Event: Click to View
Partner Toolkit: Click to View
RSVP Link: RiseAndRepair.org/rallyrsvp
9:30am: Opening Circle on South Steps (for volunteers & those who feel called to join!)
10am: Gathering in the Rotunda & Interaction with Art Piece!
10:30-11am ~ Nibi Song, Art Collaboration & Speaker Remarks!
11:05 ~ Singing Resistance leads “We Remember” as we call out the names of loved ones that have walked on.
11:15 ~ Exit rotunda to south steps of Capitol and gather for a song, connection time & a group photograph.
11:45 ~ Distribute 2026 platform & letters to elected officials!
Basic Outline of our Gathering
A Note on Capitol Security
Capitol staff is currently implementing an updated security protocol for attendees at the capital. The exterior doors to the capital from the top of the front steps will be locked throughout the year, and the only access to the building will be through the lower level’s accessible entrance. Our understanding is that attendees will be guided through a moving security/weapons screening checkpoint that will not require a full removal of articles of clothing / metals. We will update this section as soon as we have further information from Capitol staff on what participants should expect! For now, just please allow extra time for arrival to the building!
A Call for Collaboration!
If you, or your organization, would like to collaborate as part of this community gathering, please contact info@riseandrepair.org.
For Media & Press
Please contact us via email at info@riseandrepair.org and we will connect you with the resources you need for any press/media inquiries. Thank you!