Recap of Engagement Session #3 - 4/16/25

Personal Belongings Engagement Session 3 – 4/16/2025

DCYF announced the scheduling of the Angela Tucker webinar on 6/18/2025 and invited participants to join.

A brief introduction of Angela Tucker, who started the Adoption Files Initiative, later called Project Search and Reunion, was given.

DCYF shared short video: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-adoption-agency-amara-project-search-and-reunion/281-cb315858-3318-47cb-9336-c89eefb93d53 regarding Angela Tucker’s Adoption Initiative Project to show an example of how one adoption agency took on a similar project to the DCYF personal belongings project. What all was involved in their process, what ideas or takeaways are there, and to show that a project of this magnitude can be undertaken.

Video discussion points:

The approach the agency took may have been dismissive of past adoption practices and Minnesota needs to take a different approach when reuniting personal belongings.

Idea of creating an “ethics group” as mentioned in the video, was positively received.

Conversation about the importance of the state to provide a sincere acknowledgement of past adoption practices to promote healing within the adoption community was continued.

The importance of Native American personal belongings being reunited by Native people and having control of this process, not the state.

There was discussion that adoption is trauma, grief, and loss and people can feel more than one emotion and that is okay.

Poll was given to the group requesting the best time for future engagement sessions. The meeting day would remain the same – the 3^rd Wednesday of the month. Two choices for times were given, 12:00-1:30 pm or 4:00-5:30 pm. Group consensus was 12:00-1:30 pm.

Ongoing future Personal Belongings Engagement sessions will be held quarterly on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month from 12:00-1:30 pm. DCYF will send out a recurring calendar invite in near future.

Group decision was made to no longer move forward with the smaller (breakout) workgroups and to move forward with specific topics to be discussed at each quarterly meeting. Brainstorming for topic ideas may be done at the next engagement session.

DCYF suggested various trainings and requested ideas for topics and speakers for future engagement sessions.

The next engagement session was scheduled for Wednesday, July 16 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. It will be held both in person at Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung (769 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104) and virtually for those unable to attend in person. The community room has been reserved, and a light lunch will be provided.

Register by July 9 to be included in the lunch count.
1. A note about parking at Ain Dah Yung. There is a small parking lot through the alley behind Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung and there is parking along University Avenue and in the neighborhood.