Join us June 26th for a rally in front of the Minnesota Capitol, where we will be presenting the Mother Earth Vs Big Tech Petition. This petition advocates for a two-year moratorium on the construction of hyperscaled data centers. Our goal is to deliver this important message directly to the office of the Governor of Minnesota.

What:

Governor Walz Enact a Two-Year Moratorium on Data Centers Now!
With more than 20 active hyperscale data center proposals in Minnesota, the “Data Center Bill” passed in the 2025 special session falls short of creating a comprehensive regulatory framework to adequately address the impact of these projects. The 2026 legislative session ended last month leaving our state open and vulnerable against big tech billionaires and their hyperscale data centers projects.

“Minnesota says' GAAWIIN! ‘NO’ to Big Tech!”
We will gather for this educational and advocacy rally on Friday, June 26th 2026 from 1PM to 2:30PM, at the Minnesota State Capitol in the front lawn. This event will have speakers from multiple Indigenous and Minnesotan community led groups organizing against AI and Hyper Scale Data Centers. It is important for a mass turnout to show that we truly mean NO! to these harmful Hyperscale Data Centers destroying our waters and raising the energy costs of Minnesotan.

Protect Our Water!
The proposed data centers in Minnesota have raised serious concerns about the state's water and energy resources. If all ten facilities operate, their energy use could match that of the entire state, potentially delaying the retirement of coal plants and undermining climate goals. Additionally, these centers consume vast amounts of water; for instance, the Farmington center is projected to use 900 million gallons, nearly double the city's total usage. The frequent equipment upgrades may also increase the demand for mining metals for tech manufacturing. Moreover, there is a significant lack of community involvement in the decision-making process, with agreements potentially bypassing environmental laws and limiting residents' rights to influence local environmental issues.

Indigenous Intellectual Property, Indigenous Spirituality Media Protocols and Free, Prior, Inform and Consent (FPIC)
AI technology struggles with Indigenous languages, which are tied to cultural identity. Granting tech companies access to tribal knowledge risks misrepresentation and cultural appropriation, making it essential for Indigenous peoples to control their histories and languages to prevent exploitation. While some suggest AI data centers could enhance Indigenous data sovereignty, many tribal nations lack the capacity to regulate multinational corporations, potentially undermining their power. Adhering to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is vital for developers and corporations, emphasizing the need for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) to ensure Indigenous voices are included in decisions affecting them.

Mining on Indigenous Lands
The mining of metals and minerals for clean energy and data centers predominantly takes place on Indigenous lands, leading to considerable environmental and social repercussions for these communities. They frequently face contamination issues and are marginalized in decision-making processes and financial gains, with more than 70% of identified uranium deposits located on their territories. In reaction, the Indigenous Just Transition promotes a shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative one, highlighting local sovereignty, Indigenous governance systems and traditional ecological knowledge. Nations such as Canada and China are vying to advance biomaterial technology by combining Indigenous science with contemporary innovations, striving for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Mass Surveillance, ICE, Military Industrial Complex
The U.S. Military, initially formed to suppress Indigenous resistance, now operates globally with a budget of about $1 trillion, supporting imperialism through resource extraction in regions like the Congo, Palestine, Sudan, and Venezuela. This relationship between Big Tech and data centers is linked to the military-industrial complex, using "national security" to justify ongoing conflicts over resources. Additionally, the militarization of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to the use of AI for surveillance, with ICE's budget exceeding that of all other U.S. law enforcement agencies combined, reflecting increased funding for militarized operations.

Petition for Two Year Moratorium of Hyperscale Data Centers
We demand lawmakers take immediate action to impose a moratorium on the approval, permitting, and construction of hyperscale data centers across the state until a comprehensive, enforceable regulatory framework is established to safeguard water resources, energy systems, environmental integrity, and the health and welfare of affected communities. After the Friday, June 26th 2026 event, we will submit a petition demanding for a two year statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers in Minnesota.

Current Sponsors:

Mukwa, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin

NDN Collective, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin

Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Mississippi River, Facebook, Instagram

Agenda:

12PM Set-up
1PM Opening Gina Peltier, Mukwa
1:15PM Rachel Dionne-Thunder, Indigenous Protector Movement
1:25PM Isavela Lopezz, Indigenous Protector Movement
1:35PM Elijah Small, Brave Heart Society
1:45PM Leanna Goose, Rise & Repair
1:55PM Intermission, refreshments
2:05PM Cathy Johnson,COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT
2:15PM Aubree Derksen, Stop the Pine Island Data Center
2:25PM Rebecca, Stop Hermantown Data Center
2:35PM Twin Cities Innovation Alliance
2:45PM Liz Bolsoni, Minnesota Anti-War Committee
2:55PM Closing E. Joey Oppegaard-Peltier, Mukwa

Who:

Mukwa, RISE Coalition, Indigenous Environmental Network, Brave Heart Society, Rise & Repair, COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT, Stop the Pine Island Data Center, Indigenous Protector Movement, Twin Cities Innovation Alliance, NDN Collective, Minnesota Anti-War Committee Stop Hermantown Data Center, Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Mississippi River

We are seeking sponsors and providing tabling opportunities for allied organizations and coalitions.

Sponsor organizations $100, Tabling $25 that can be paid here or reach out to Joey for other payment options and if your a sponsor, speaker organization or Minnesota Community Coalition Against hyperscale data centers email joey@mukwamiikana.org for a waived tabling fee.