The Coco Canary Monthly Newsletter
January 2022
Summary:
Honoring Elders Who Have Passed, MNEA President-Elect, Woodland Steward Project, and more!
Welcome to Coco Canary!
If you’re new here, read this section! Otherwise, skip on down.
Hello from Molly O’Connor, the principal and founder of Coco Canary Consulting, LLC, a creative evaluation firm.
We are based in St. Paul, MN, and acknowledge that we are on the stolen lands of the Dakota People (specifically the Wahpekute Band of Dakota, who are among the Oceti Sakowin (“Seven Council Fires”). These people were the first stewards of the lands we occupy, and they are still here. We honor their connection to this land and their ongoing resilience in the face of violent colonialism.
You may ask, how do social justice and racial equity relate to evaluation? From our experience, we have seen evaluations designed and reported in ways that harm, undervalue, and take advantage of the communities being served. This is our current status quo, and it is not okay. It has to change. We do our work differently because we want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
A Grounding: Honoring Clyde Bellecourt & Mr. Mel Reeves
This month, two important social justice elders passed away: Mr. Mel Reeves and Clyde Bellecourt—Neegonnwayweedun, “The Thunder Before the Storm.” Mr. Reeves was a writer, editor, and community organizer, deeply involved with the racial justice movement. Clyde Bellecourt was a warrior—ogichidaa in Ojibwe— and co-founder of the American Indian Movement. I did not know either of them personally, but I had heard them speak, read of their acts of resistance, and been in ceremonies and solidarity with them at protests and rallies. You can read more about Clyde Bellecourt here, here, and here. You can pay tribute to Mr. Mel Reeves here.
To learn more about how you can support indigenous sovereignty and resistance, check out this website. Also, below is a copy-and-paste from the Stop Line 3 January 2022 newsletter with calls to action.
- February 1, 4-7 pm CT – Open Office Hours for Testimony Prep
- February 2 – Testify or watch the WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) virtual public hearing on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) for the proposed relocation of Line 5 (the last Line 5 hearing lasted 5 hours, so please RSVP and plan to come even if you can’t get there until after 4 pm CT)
- By March 4 – Submit a written comment on the dEIS
- Here’s a one-stop action page from Wisconsin’s Sierra Club!
In love and solidarity,
<3 Molly
Business Updates
1. Molly was elected to be President-Elect for the Minnesota Evaluation Association
If you didn’t hear, I was elected to the board of directors for the Minnesota Evaluation Association (MNEA), a local affiliate of the larger American Evaluation Association. I will be President-Elect, which means I am on the three-year presidential track. In year 1, I will support the current President (Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro) and learn the ropes. Next year, I will be the President, and the following year, I will be the outgoing President. I feel honored to have been invited to co-lead MNEA for the next few years. I’ve attended MNEA events for several years and have deeply appreciated the community. I hope to continue this sense of belonging and build deeper relationships with the MNEA board and its members.
2. Woodland Steward Project Summary & Survey: Please Read!
A Request for my Community! I am collaborating with the University of Minnesota Extension and Forest Service on a project about the motivations and barriers to prospective woodland stewardship. If you are based in Minnesota and have ever been interested in stewarding a woodland (or are curious what that is!), please read below—and fill out the survey if it feels right for you. Also, please share with folks you think would be interested. Thank you!
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Little research exists about the current perceived barriers to woodland stewardship—shifting our language from “ownership” to “stewardship” because, in Minnesota, we are on occupied Dakota & Anishinaabeg lands. Our definition of “stewardship” is the conducting, supervising, or managing something—especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. This can be done as a volunteer for an organization, on a property you have purchased, etc. Our definition of “woodland” is a wooded area at least one acre in size. As a frame of reference, a football field is about one and one-third acres in size, and a soccer field is about one and three-quarter acres in size.
History tells us that barriers exist to stewarding woodlands, especially for individuals who have been historically excluded due to gender, class, race, ethnicity, immigration status, ability, etc. For example, the disrespecting of treaties—and the lasting impacts of the Nelson Act of 1889—showcase the forced displacement of Native Americans, predominantly Ojibwe, and the unlawful selling of their lands, which much was woodland. More broadly, the existence of a racial monetary wealth gap—an effect of a lack of opportunity for generational wealth-building for individuals whom unjust and racist policies have directly impacted—is another example. Overall, systematic inequities and capitalism have created barriers for people to purchase woodlands—and land in general.
Woodland stewardship serves a tremendously important cultural, economic, and environmental value. Currently, private woodland stewards are typically male and white. And, little research exists on how changing forestland steward demographics may influence ecological health and whether there are unique outreach, information, or assistance needs for those interested in becoming woodland stewards.
Our team is seeking to learn more about the motivations and perceived barriers to stewarding woodlands and better understand the needs of prospective woodland stewards, especially by lifting the voices and stories of historically excluded individuals. We hope to interview a diverse group of future woodland stewards based in Minnesota. Interviews will last between 45 to 60 minutes, and we will offer $50 gift cards to participants after the interview.
If you, or someone you know, are interested, please fill out this contact form: https://forms.gle/Tn2AE3w8uNZY48bV8
Thank you, and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!
Other Business Updates
12 New Rules for Virtual Meetings, Since We’re Still In a Pandemic
Read Vu Le’s (“Voo Lay”) most recent blog post if you want to feel seen and laugh a little. My favorite line is, “Yes, that is a pile of unfolded laundry on my bed next to a plate with half an enchilada—I’m saving it for later!—under a Final Fantasy VI poster.”
Check out Native Government Center’s Beyond Land Acknowledgement New Animated video!
Over a year ago (or more??), I went to the Native Governance Center’s Beyond Land Acknowledgment webinar. I found it so helpful that I’ve kept the document in my bookmarks and refer to it often. They recently published an animated video about going beyond land acknowledgments, and I recommend checking it out!
Answering the Call: One Foundation’s Approach to Shifting Power and Funding Racial Justice
If you are interested in learning more about how philanthropy can show up better for social and racial justice, check out this article. Here’s a quote that stood out to me:
“…we have shifted from funding 30 individual grant partners and are now instead making 10 large, multi-year grants to grassroots alliances and movement-accountable public foundations, trusting them to redistribute those funds to BIPOC-led grassroots organizations according to their own priorities and visions. …recognizing that front-line leaders who are immersed in the day-to-day realities of organizing in marginalized communities are in the best position to strategically deploy resources to advance change.”
Personal Update
A Visual Representation of January 2022 – A Photo Collage
January was a month of rest for me. I spent a lot of time cooking food, trying new things (like making loofah’s from scratch! Thanks, Janeen), playing lots of games, and watching home videos of my partner, Mike, as an adorable small child. Here is a brief description of the images above from left to right.
The first image is of a chessboard. This felt significant to share because I haven’t played chess for MANY years, and I have insecurities about my chess skills. I finally played a game—and lost gallantly—which felt like good progress for me!
The second and third images are of loofah making. One image is a tray of freshly skinned and cleaned loofahs, and the other image is of my partner Mike peeling the skin off a loofah. Also, funny story, we looked up a video on how to make loofahs, and we ended up finding a video created by friends and previous mentors of mine, Rob and Haley Nelson. Check out their Youtube Channel, Stone Age Man and Untamed Science!
The fourth image is of my partner’s dad looking at a printout of all the home videos—which have been converted to DVD—deciding on which ones to watch.
The fifth image is of my housemate and friend playing the board game Wingspan, which has become one of my most recent favorite games as of late!
Let’s Stay Connected!
To keep up to date with my business news, connect or follow me on Linkedin. Don’t forget to follow our newsletter (and share with others), as well! And, of course, if you know of anyone who may benefit from our services, send them our way. Referrals are what make the world go round.
In solidarity,
Molly O’Connor (she/her/hers)
Founder, Principal Consultant, and Creative Evaluator
direct: (612) 868-0364
email: moconnor@cococanary.com
website: cococanary.com
