Ground breaking ceremonies were held for the new FSST Elderly complex center on Friday, October  12th. The complex will eventually have 22 apartment units through two phases. Phase I will cost $1.7 million dollars with funding from a grant award from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Phase I will start with constructing thirteen units; then phase II will add nine more. Hopefully phase I (or phase II) will be complete by early next fall.
The Ground breaking ceremony began with the Many Lightings drum group consisting of Mike Wakeman, JB Weston, JP Roy, Perry Bobtail Bear, David Ross, and Helena Thompson. Tom Allen Jr. and JP Roy gave the prayer and blessing of the grounds.
(Pictured above from L to R: FSST Vice-President Jason Taylor, FSST Secretary Eloise Drapeau, Trustee I Christine Payer, Trustee III Garrie Kills-a-Hundred, & Trustee IV Ardie Lovejoy)
Tom Allen, Jr. expressed that it was an honor to be asked to provide the blessing and for such a wonderful project since the elders provide so much wisdom and guidance from their years of experience on this earth.
Tom also stated that culturally the tribes have always taken care of the elders and now we are following in that same tradition.
JP Roy expressed that we need to care for our elders give them a place where they can call home and be comfortable by being with other Native Americans, as opposed to other less satisfactory living arrangements. JP expressed that it has made him glad to know that elders that have passed on are looking down with their approval.
Tom Ranfranz spoke briefly expressing that this is good for the community. Tom wished to thank the FSST Executive Committee, Richard Rangel, group, construction manager, and a special thanks to the housing board and to everyone who helped make this possible every step of the way.
Leah also voiced her concerns with off-reservation elders wanting to move back but with a housing waiting list that has numerous young adults and new families, the wait list is long, but now we will be able to provide quality housing.
Jason Taylor, FSST Vice- President, was the last to speak before the groundbreaking. He expressed:”  It is a privilege to welcome everybody to the visible beginning of a new and much needed Elderly Living Complex.” Jason stated: “This is a joyous occasion for many of us here today who have been personally involved. Today, as we commemorate the ground breaking for an inspiring and critically needed new building, we are celebrating among friends. Friends and donors who have stepped up to make this a reality. And, while we are just breaking ground today, each of us here has had or will have a special role in its completion. Today it is my delight to thank each of you for your vision, words of encouragement, financial investment, wisdom, creativity, optimism, persistence, and energy that has helped bring us to this point. I especially want to share my deep appreciation for the following, the Executive Committee (President Joshua Weston, Secretary Eloise Drapeau, Treasurer Gordon Jones Jr., and the Trustees, Christine Payer, Ardie Lovejoy, Garrie Kills A Hundred and Darlene Bernard), the Housing Board ( Cecil Long, Harold “Buzz” Rederth, Francis “Stub” Wakeman Jr, Myron “Butch” Taylor, and Mike Wakeman). Also, Tom Ranfranz, Richard Rangle, and the architects at KKE.”
“I have chosen not to use my own words to offer gratitude on this occasion for my words would not be adequate at this moment. So I give thanks for this day and each of you, I offer these words: 1) make it a habit to tell people thank you, 2) to express your appreciation, sincerely and without expectation of anything in return, 3) truly appreciate those around you and you will soon find many others around you, 4) truly appreciate life and you will find that you have more of it.” by Ralph Mauston
“Again, on behalf of myself and the Executive Committee, thank you for those who have labored hard already and for those who are about to.
Thank you,” stated FSST Vice- President Jason Taylor. |
