Anna Hudak, contributor
Supervised by police and assisted by volunteers, the residents of Camp Nenookaasi were evicted for the third time this year on Feb. 1 after being evicted on Jan. 4 and 30. In an official statement from the City of Minneapolis reported by the Sahan Journal, the evacuation was ”due to imminent public safety concerns, including fire hazards and growing tensions between individuals within the camp and nearby residents.” The statement elaborated further stating the concerns of “death threats among residents, property damage, vandalism, fentanyl use, and a stomach flu virus that sickened camp occupants.” According to the estimation of Nenookasi’s organizer Nicole Mason approximately 60 residents have relocated to S. 11th Ave and W. 28th St., making this encampment the fourth iteration of Nenookaasi.
The camp was formed following the Aug. 2023 eviction of the Wall of Forgotten Natives encampment at 13th Ave S. and E. 23rd St. After being evicted, the 130 residents of the encampment relocated to E. 23rd St. and 13th Ave S. where, according to MinnPost, they became the largest homeless encampment in Minneapolis.
Housing mostly Native American residents, Nenookaasi is intended to be a temporary solution and a center to distribute resources to residents, many of whom have drug or alcohol dependencies that inhibit them from seeking housing in a shelter. According to the Star Tribune, Camp Nenookaasi “helped dozens secure treatment and subsidized housing.” Mason attributed their success in residents obtaining housing to the encampment being “one central place where their housing workers and their health care workers can find them,” according to MinnPost.
Critics of the encampment clearing have expressed deep concerns about the vicious cycle of eviction which inevitably results in the creation of another encampment, creating instability for residents. In addition to the ineffectiveness of evictions as a means to resolve the encampment crisis, Camp Nenookaasi has criticized city spending which “should be using money to house people instead of evicting them,” according to Sahan Journal.
In a quote from Axios, Chunghtai explained, “the goal is to make a deeply tragic condition as safe and regulated as possible” and the encampment crisis will persist “in the absence of codified regulation.”
– Aisha Chungtai, minneapolis city council member
Minneapolis council members Jason Chavez, Aisha Chunghtai and Aurin Chowdhury are drafting separate proposals to improve the procedure for responses to unapproved encampments and the closure process following the evictions. In a quote from Axios, Chunghtai explained, “the goal is to make a deeply tragic condition as safe and regulated as possible” and the encampment crisis will persist “in the absence of codified regulation.” One of the ordinances draws inspiration from Denver’s new zoning code that permits the establishment of “safe outdoor spaces,” locations where unhoused people can remain temporarily.
Nenookaasi has issued a news release that implores the city to allow them temporary indoor housing for residents while they try to find a more permanent solution, among other requests. According to the Sahan Journal, the city has issued a statement emphasizing its commitment “to prioritize the health and safety of those living in encampments and surrounding neighborhoods,” but has not yet responded to the requests of Nenookaasi.