RESO 25-081 - Approving Haha Wakpadan Co-Naming PolicyRESOLUTION NO. 25-081
RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION OF Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/
BASSETT CREEK CO-NAMING POLICY
WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley (the “City”) is committed to taking actionable
steps to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, the City passed the Land Acknowledgment Statement on May 17, 2022,
acknowledging and honoring the Dakota Peoples, on whose ancestral lands the City is built
and whose land resources we use; and
WHEREAS, the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC)
adopted their Creek Co-Naming Practices in December 2024, co-naming Ȟaȟá
Wakpádan/Bassett Creek after an oral history project and Ȟaȟá Wakpádan & Indigenous
Culture; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Environmental Commission met on June 23, 2025,
and unanimously recommended approval of adopting BCWMC’s Co-Naming
Practice locally to align in naming practice; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC) and Open
Space and Recreation Commission (OSRC) reviewed the draft policy via email in August
2025; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to co-name Bassett Creek with Ȟaȟá Wakpádan, the
Dakota People’s name for Bassett Creek.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council for the City of Golden
Valley adopts the Ȟaȟá Wakpádan/Bassett Creek Co-Naming Policy attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 2nd day of September 2025.
Roslyn Harmon, Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
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O FFICIAL C ITY P OLICY
C ITY OF G OLDEN V ALLEY
General Informa�on
Policy Title: Co-Naming Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Basset Creek Department: Community Development
Policy Owner (job �tle): Sustainability Specialist Policy ID:
Council Approval Date: September 2, 2025 Resolu�on Number: 25-081
Effec�ve Date: September 2, 2025 ☒New ☐ Updated
Policy Overview
Policy Descrip�on:
This policy governs the naming of Basset Creek, a local waterway, on City documents. This policy requires the City co-
name the creek with its Dakota name, “Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ” and the English name “Basset Creek.”
Purpose & Scope:
Purpose
The City of Golden Valley (the “City”) wishes to acknowledge and honor the Dakota na�on, on whose ancestral land
the City of Golden Valley is built, and whose land and water resources we use. The City intends to follow the Basset
Creek Watershed Management Commission (“BCWMC”) in co-naming the Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Basset Creek (the
“Creek”). Per BCWMC, one way to honor Indigenous communi�es is through language. Using Dakota place names and
vocabulary is an important step in acknowledging Dakota history, culture, and ongoing contribu�ons to natural and
human communi�es.
Background
The BCWMC worked with local leaders on their co-naming policy, including Roxanne Biidabinokwe Gould, professor
emeritus of Indigenous and environmental studies, and Jim Rock. Both Roxanne and Jim live in Golden Valley near the
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ.
The Environmental Commission voted to recommend the City Council adopt the BCWMC’s Co-Naming Policy at its
June 2025 mee�ng.
Scope
This policy applies to any content sponsored, established, registered, or authorized by the City and any of its
Departments or Divisions including, but not limited to:
• Online Content, including Social Media and City Webpages
• Maps
• Small Area Plans and Comprehensive Plans
• Signs
All City Representa�ves shall u�lize this policy when referring to the Creek both inside and outside the limits of Golden
Valley. The Creek does not follow the geographic limits of the City. All City Representa�ves shall follow the co-naming
policy in both writen and verbal communica�ons.
Ques�ons regarding the scope of this policy should be directed to the Community and Economic Development
Director.
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Defini�ons:
• Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ means “Creek to the River of the Falls” or “Falls Creek,” and is the Dakota name for the creek
with the English name Basset Creek.
• City Representa�ves means all City employees, agents, independent contractors, and elected and appointed
officials.
• Basset Creek means the Main Stem Basset Creek as indicated by the BCMWC and defined on its website.
Related Documents, Materials & Resources:
• A copy of the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission’s “Creek Co-Naming Prac�ces: Approved
December 2024” is atached.
• Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ” & Indigenous Culture Webpage from BCWMC
• City of Golden Valley Land Acknowledgement Statement
• How to Pronounce Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ
Policy
The City of Golden Valley approves and applauds the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission’s decision to
use both the Dakota and English names for the creek with the English name “Basset Creek.”
To the extent it is within the authority of the City of Golden Valley, and to the extent it is consistent with the prac�ces
and policies of the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission:
1) Both the Dakota and English names shall be used on the main stem of the creek;
2) The Dakota name shall be placed first, then a slash (rather than a hyphen), then the English name:
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Basset Creek;
3) The individual characters and accents shall be used whenever possible. When an app or webpage does not allow
unique characters, Haha Wakpadan/Basset Creek may be acceptable;
4) This co-naming shall be used wherever possible, par�cularly on public facing documents and places, including
signs at road crossings, signs at project sites, and in parks;
5) Because Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ means “Falls Creek”, it may be appropriate to place “the” in front of
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Basset Creek depending on usage;
6) The City will use Dakota artwork on signs and other appropriate places whenever possible.
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