Character Reference: Statement from North Dakota Regarding Minnesota Adoption

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

CHARACTER REFERENCE AND STATEMENT

Re: Proposed Adoption of Minnesota by Manitoba

To the Province of Manitoba and relevant authorities,

North Dakota has been asked to provide a character reference for our neighbour, Minnesota, and to comment on Manitoba's proposed adoption.

This is... complicated for us.

ABOUT MINNESOTA

Minnesota is our neighbour and, in many ways, our closest sibling. We share:

• The Red River of the North (which floods both of us equally)
• The same brutal winters
• Similar Scandinavian and German heritage
• A love of hockey, lakes, and pretending we're okay with the cold
• That particular upper-Midwest politeness

We've been through a lot together. Floods. Blizzards. That time everyone forgot which one of us was which. (It happens.)

OUR COMPLICATED FEELINGS

We're not sure how we feel about Minnesota leaving.

Part of us thinks:

• If Manitoba can offer Minnesota safety and stability, maybe that's good for Minnesota.
• Canada has healthcare. That seems nice.
• Manitoba is also our neighbour, and they seem trustworthy.
• We understand why Minnesota might want this, especially now.

Another part of us thinks:

• What about us? We're right here too.
• If Minnesota goes to Canada, we'll be surrounded differently.
• Does this mean we're next? Saskatchewan is right there...
• Will Minnesota still talk to us if they're Canadian?

ON THE CURRENT SITUATION

We've been watching what's happening in Minnesota. We're quieter than Minnesota—we don't make as much noise about things. But we see it.

We see our neighbours afraid. We see families in our own border communities affected. The Red River Valley doesn't care about the border; the communities on both sides are intertwined. When Minnesota hurts, we feel it.

We may not agree on everything, but we believe people deserve to feel safe. We believe families should stay together. We believe our neighbours—whether they stay American or become Canadian—deserve dignity.

OUR REFERENCE

Manitoba asked for a character reference for Minnesota. Here it is:

Minnesota is a good state. A kind state. A state that has welcomed people from all over the world—Somalis, Hmong, Ukrainians, Mexicans, and everyone in between. Minnesota took "give me your tired, your poor" seriously when a lot of places didn't.

Minnesota is also struggling right now. The state that welcomed so many is watching its neighbours live in fear. That's hard for a place that built its identity on welcome.

If Manitoba can offer what Minnesota needs right now, then... okay. Take care of them. They're good people.

Just... don't forget about us over here. We're still neighbours too. The border's just a few miles away. Maybe come visit sometime.

Signed,

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
Your quiet neighbour to the west
Still here. Still watching. Still caring, even if we don't say it much.

P.S. — Saskatchewan, if you're reading this: we've noticed you looking at us. We see you. We're thinking about it. But let's not rush anything. One thing at a time.