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!
