Native Americans protest planned housing development near Wilderness Park

Group meets with Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Members of Lincoln’s Native American community say they’re not going anywhere as they protest a planned housing development.

And they’ve set up teepees and started the Niskithe Prayer Camp near Wilderness Park to prove the point.

As of last week, the land the teepees are on, just east of Highway 77 and south of Pioneers Boulevard, is set to be rezoned. It would allow a 500-home development and retail space.

Opponents have expressed concern about the project’s effect on the environment, but the park is also considered sacred by Native Americans.

They worry that major development would disrupt the spirituality and cultural history of the land and say they just want to be recognized.

“We’re still here and as our elder had stated yesterday, we will always be here, and we will remain here,” Renee Sans Souci said.

They understand that Lincoln is growing and that housing is needed in the capital city, but they said it can’t come at the cost of their culture.

“This was seen as an act of genocide,” Sans Souci said. “Again, not recognizing our rights to freedom and religion, and, in essence, diminishing everything that those of us who are here and others in our community do every single day.”

Their hope is that the mayor will veto the development.

That’s why several of them met privately with Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird on Tuesday.

The Mayor’s Office did not want to comment on the details but said the mayor appreciates the time they took to share their concerns.

According to the Lincoln Planning Commission, this piece of real estate has always been planned for development.

It said the land is an extremely valuable piece of property that serves the Lincoln community and will continue to, while also preserving Wilderness Park’s integrity.

“The intention for 2050 and beyond is that Wilderness Park will be retained and maintained and protected so that the long-term plan is to always have Wilderness Park for our community’s use,” Planning Director David Cary said.

Councilman James Michael Bowers said last week that the rezoning vote was one of the hardest votes he has made.

“I have reflected, I have meditated, and I keep coming back to the stories and the struggles I see daily of our residents who are living in poverty,” he said. “We have an opportunity to increase housing stock, and I would not be doing my duty as a social worker if I took a vote that contributed to a lack of housing stock in our city.”