St. Cloud – Write on Race
2021-12-02 17:30 - 19:30, 2022-01-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2022-02-03 17:30 - 19:30, 2022-03-17 17:30 - 20:30, 2022-04-21 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Stearns History Museum, 235 South 33rd Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
*$57 is the fee for all six sessions. Teams of four or more people: $45 each, please contact Jennifer Tonko at jennifer@mnhum.org.
MHC, Love & Struggle, and St. Cloud organizations are partnering to help communities develop action plans to combat racism. Participants will learn about impacts of race in our communities, reflect through journal writing, and share their learning with others. They’ll then develop action plans to move from passive non-racism to active anti-racism.
Schedule
November 4, 2021 – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Session One: WRITE on RACE
December 2, 2021 – 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Session Two: Past, present, future of race and social impacts of race
January 6, 2022 – 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Session Three: Race and criminal justice
February 3, 2022 – 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Session Four: Race and education
March 17, 2022 – 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Session Five: Race and income
April 21, 2022 – 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Session Six: Closing session RIGHT on RACE (In-person in St. Cloud)
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Cloud – Why Treaties Matter
2022-01-03 - 2022-03-03 | Stearns History Museum, 235 South 33rd Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
“Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations”—a traveling exhibit made in partnership with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian—explores relationships between Dakota and Ojibwe Indian Nations and the U.S. government in this place we now call Minnesota.
Want to know more about Why Treaties Matter?
Learn more about the Why Treaties Matter exhibit and partnership.
Learn More

Winona – We Are Water MN
2022-03-03 - 2022-04-25 | Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Free with Admission
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: City of Winona
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Nevis – Why Treaties Matter
2022-04-04 - 2022-04-08 | Nevis Public Schools, 210 Pleasant Street, Nevis, MN, 56467, United States

Lake City - We Are Water MN
2022-04-28 - 2022-06-20 | Lake City Public Library, 201 South High Street, Lake City, MN, 55041, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance

Alexandria – We Are Water MN
2022-06-23 - 2022-08-15 | Legacy of the Lakes Museum, 205 3rd Avenue West, Alexandria, MN, 56308, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Legacy of the Lakes Museum
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
LEARN MORE

St. Cloud and ONLINE - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
2022-07-21 16:00 - 17:30, 2022-07-28 16:00 - 17:30, 2022-08-04 16:00 - 17:30, 2022-08-11 16:00 - 17:30 | Whitney Senior Center, 527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN, 56303, United States
Engage in lively thought-provoking conversations on what it means to live a virtuous life. There are numerous reasons the insights of ancient philosophers such as Epicurus, Confucius, and Aristotle have stood the test of time.

“Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search of it when he has grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul.” Epicurus
“To know what you know and what you do not know is the mark of one who knows.” Confucius
“Happiness is an activity in accordance with virtue.” Aristotle

What they have to offer continues to remain instructive today. In this four-session course, we will examine selections of text from these ancient figures, seeking not only to evaluate their claims, but also inquiring how we might apply their lessons to our lives today.
This course will be led by John Houston, longtime philosophy professor (most recently at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University) and instructor with Wisdom’s Edge, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing philosophy to all.
Schedule
July 21, 2022 – 4:00-5:30 p.m. CST
July 28, 2022 – 4:00-5:30 p.m. CST
August 4, 2022 – 4:00-5:30 p.m. CST
August 11, 2022 – 4:00-5:30 p.m. CST
*$40 is the fee for all four sessions.

Participants are expected to attend all four sessions.
Registration
While all are welcome to participate, we especially encourage participation from those 55+, as we value the rich history of life experiences to relate to the material and to other individuals in the class. For those 55+, register with promo code MHC55 for a discount of $15.
We are offering this course in collaboration with the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud. One doesn’t need to be a member of or associated with Whitney to join. Class participants have the option of joining from Zoom or in-person at the Whitney Senior Center. You will be asked your preference when registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Fergus Falls - We Are Water MN
2022-08-18 - 2022-10-10 | Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 East Hampden Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN, 56537, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Otter Tail County
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
LEARN MORE

Mankato - The Legacy of 9/11: Four Perspectives
2022-09-08 16:00 - 17:30 | Ostrander Auditorium – Minnesota State University – Mankato, 540 W Road, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
The September 11 attacks of 2001 remain among the most significant events in U.S. history, with lasting impacts on people from all walks of life. For many who experienced that day, the events of 9/11 are a flashbulb memory: we can remember exactly where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt. In conjunction with the 9/11 Exhibit from the MN Military and Veterans Museum, this moderated discussion will examine several perspectives on 9/11, exploring reflections, memories, and personal stories of how the event has influenced each speaker’s life. We welcome community to gather to reflect on these memories, stories, and artifacts, as we grapple not only with the legacies of 9/11 but with the effects of war and conflicts affecting the world today.
Speakers include Yalda Hamidi, storyteller, Asst. Professor Gender and Women’s Studies, Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSU-Mankato); Randal Dietrich, MN Military and Veterans Museum Director and historian; Mariah Jacobsen, daughter of Tom Burnett, passenger on board flight United 93; and Antonio Lain, Corporal Wisconsin Army National Guard, and Chemistry Major at MSU-Mankato.
This panel is held in conjunction with the Minnesota 9/11 and the Global War on Terror traveling exhibit, on display at MSU-Mankato in the main ballroom, from September 8-11, 2022.
Registration
Registration is appreciated for this free event.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Duluth - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2022-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Denfeld High School, 401 North 44th Avenue West, Duluth, MN, 55807, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance, yet many people are unfamiliar with its meaning and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center is honored to collaborate with Duluth Public Schools, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and the greater Duluth community to bring the significance of this day to life.
Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute two-act dramatization of a traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer enslaved in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend. Stay for a post-show discussion with the cast moderated by Carl Crawford from the Duluth Office of Human Rights.
Open seating will begin at 6:45 p.m. The show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m.
Registration
The performance is free to attend but registration is required in managing seating capacity.
Open seating will begin at 6:45 p.m. The show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

POSTPONED - Mankato - Poetry in the Parks
2022-10-01 10:00 - 16:00 | Blue Earth County Library, 100 East Main Street, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
What does nature mean to you? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and fellow poet Michael Torres* for a daylong writing workshop at Minnesota State Parks. Alongside the poets, students will explore the beauty of nature and write their own poems. Students will receive instruction and encouragement to write in their home languages as well as English.
Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and has space for 20 students in grades 5 – 8 (academic year 2022-23). Pens and notebooks will be provided, and students will be given prompts in advance. Refreshments will include morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Bus transportation will be provided from Blue Earth County Library to Minneopa State Park.
*At select locations

POSTPONED - Austin - Poetry in the Parks
2022-10-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Austin Public Library, 323 4th Avenue Northeast, Austin, MN, 55912, United States
What does nature mean to you? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and fellow poet Michael Torres* for a daylong writing workshop at Minnesota State Parks. Alongside the poets, students will explore the beauty of nature and write their own poems. Students will receive instruction and encouragement to write in their home languages as well as English.
Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and has space for 20 students in grades 5 – 8 (academic year 2022-23). Pens and notebooks will be provided, and students will be given prompts in advance. Refreshments will include morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Bus transportation will be provided from Austin Public Library to Myre Big Island State Park.
*At select locations

POSTPONED - Worthington - Poetry in the Parks
2022-10-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Nobles County Library, 407 12th Street, Worthington, MN, 56187, United States
Poetry in the Parks has been postponed. Please check back for updated offerings.
What does nature mean to you? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and fellow poet Michael Torres* for a daylong writing workshop at Minnesota State Parks. Alongside the poets, students will explore the beauty of nature and write their own poems. Students will receive instruction and encouragement to write in their home languages as well as English.
Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and has space for 20 students in grades 5 – 8 (academic year 2022-23). Pens and notebooks will be provided, and students will be given prompts in advance. Refreshments will include morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Bus transportation will be provided from Nobles County Library to Blue Mound State Park.
*At select locations

Bemidji - Treaties, Strategies, and Traditionalism
2022-11-29 12:00 - 13:30 | American Indian Resource Center, Bemidji State University, 1630 Birchmont Dr NE, Bemidji, MN, 56601, United States
This talk foregrounds Indigenous perspectives, specifically those of the Anishinaabeg of Minnesota and Quebec, on treaty signing, economic activities, and the seasonal round. Comparing Native and White perspectives on treaty signing throws into sharp relief the divergent understandings, cultural differences, and foreclosed opportunities that characterized these encounters. Participants will examine petitions and treaties from the mid- and late nineteenth centuries and put them in conversation with newer scholarship that emphasizes the Native perspective and a contextual approach to analysis. This presentation will also encourage participants to consider the importance of how we interpret these petitions and treaties in terms of writing an accurate and more comprehensive history as well as their juridical implications in front of a conservative U.S. Supreme Court that has recently veered decidedly to the right.
Raised in Massachusetts, Dr. Dennis Fisher is a descendant of Algonquin and Nipissing Anishinaabeg from Quebec. He was taught by his late mentor Stan Dumont Whiteduck and Elders at Kitigan Zibi — the largest and oldest Algonquin reserve in Canada. He is a veteran and served as an emergency room medic in the United States Air Force. He holds a PhD in History as well as a doctoral graduate portfolio in Native American and Indigenous Studies. He has recently had an article published in American Indian Quarterly titled, “War, Wampum, and Recognition: Algonquin Transborder Political Activism During the Early Twentieth Century, 1919-1931.” He is currently under contract with the University of British Columbia Press to publish his upcoming work, To Not Sell One Perch: Algonquin Politics and Culture at Kitigan Zibi During the Twentieth Century. He has previously taught at White Earth Tribal and Community College and is currently Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies at Bemidji State University.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Onamia and Online – Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium
2023-02-09 08:00 - 2023-02-10 17:00 | Grand Casino Mille Lacs, 777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN, 56359, United States
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting a two-day Dakota & Ojibwe Languages Symposium! The goal of the symposium is to bring people working in Dakota & Ojibwe language revitalization together. We want to use this time to celebrate successes of what some groups have done in the past, highlight what is currently going on in the field, and help shape future language revitalization efforts. We also want to elevate the visibility of Indigenous languages throughout the state of Minnesota. By bringing people together, we hope this symposium serves as an opportunity for individuals to network with other Dakota & Ojibwe language professionals. The event will be in-person and broadcasted virtually!
Breakfast and lunch are included for those attending in person. Participants are responsible for booking overnight accommodations if needed (rooms are available at Grand Casino Mille Lacs). CEU’s are available for educators attending the symposium.
To submit your proposal to lead a presentation or activity, complete the online form. Proposals are being reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Mankato and Online - Transnational Feminism, Solidarity, and Care for #WomanLifeFreedom
2023-02-28 15:00 - 17:00 | Ostrander Auditorium – Minnesota State University – Mankato, 540 W Road, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
Recent events and protests in Iran have catapulted human rights and feminist issues onto the world stage, and yet these movements in Iran are not new. Join Dr. Yalda Hamidi (Minnesota State University, Mankato) and special guest panelists Prof. Ibtesam Al Atiyat (St. Olaf College) and Ph.D. student and human rights lawyer Tahmina Sobat (University of Minnesota) as they reflect on the Iranian feminist revolution of 2022 and the politics of solidarity, care, and transnational feminism. This event will be held both virtually and in-person on campus.
Prior to a panel discussion, each scholar will discuss how the current women’s revolution in Iran aligns with their own research. Dr. Hamidi will consider Iranian diasporic feminism/s and how her participation and engagement with the Green Movement of 2009 shapes her understanding of the current unfolding feminist revolution. Dr. Al Atiyat will share examples of Arab women’s solidarity with Iranian women and share reflections on the limits that have surfaced. Finally, Ph.D. student Tahmina Sobat will discuss Afghan women’s longstanding advocacies against imperialism and war, noting the possibilities and perils of transnational feminist solidarities regarding the situation in Iran.
Co-sponsored by the Women’s Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Panelists
Yalda Hamidi (She/Her/Hers) is an Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at Minnesota State University Mankato and a member of the Ms. Committee of Scholars. She identifies as a teacher, mentor, storyteller, sister, and auntie. At MNSU Mankato, Yalda teaches transnational feminism, feminist pedagogy, and queer identities courses. In her research, she writes about the importance of politics of location for understanding the feminism/s of non-white and non-Western women. Yalda’s non-academic work strives to share the stories of Iranian women championing and fighting intersectional systems of oppression.
Ibtesam Al Atiyat is a professor of sociology, and the director of the Enduring Questions Program at St. Olaf College. She is the author of “The Jordanian Women’s Movement: Activism, Strategies and Discourses”, published by Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Berlin) in 2004, and the editor of “The Uprisings and Gender Equity in the Arab World” published by the Kettering Foundation, the Arab Network for the Study of Democracy, and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the American University of Beirut in 2017.
Tahmina Sobat is a women’s human rights lawyer from Afghanistan. She holds a law degree from Herat University of Afghanistan, an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies through the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is currently working on her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota where her thesis will examine “The Role of Grassroots Feminism in Demilitarization and Peace-Building in Afghanistan.”
Registration
For those coming from off campus, please indicate when registering if you will need a parking voucher.
If you plan to join remotely please indicate so when registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Walker - Why Treaties Matter
2023-03-13 - 2023-03-24 | Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School, 301 4th Street, Walker, MN, 56484, United States

Pine River - We Are Water MN
2023-04-27 - 2023-06-19 | Happy Dancing Turtle, 2331 Dancing Wind Rd SW, Ste 1, Pine River, MN, 56474, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Happy Dancing Turtle
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Coleraine - Teaching American Indian Content to All
2023-06-06 09:00 - 2023-06-07 15:30 | Greenway High School, 308 Roosevelt Street, Coleraine, MN, 55722, United States
MHC is pleased to be a presenter at a two-day professional development training hosted by Greenway Nashwauk Keewatin Indian Education at Greenway High School. Educators in the Coleraine and greater Grand Rapids area are invited to attend all or part of the training. There will be multiple classes covering all teaching grade levels and subjects. MHC’s session, Teaching American Indian Content to All, will be given on Wednesday, June 7. CEUs are available for participating educators.
Presenters:
Dan & Susan Ninham: Indigenized Physical Activity Breaks, Team Building, Northern Indigenous Games
Carolyn Olson: Implementing Indigenous Education in the Classroom
Lowana Greensky: Fry Bread Tacos, Resiliency
Patti Rychart: Dream Catchers
Govinda Budrow: Special Education
Donna Patterson: Special Education
Sherwin Obey: Sports, Physical Activities, Quick Games for Elementary Students
Jade Wilson: Elementary Lessons
Rachael Herring: Art Projects
Eloise Jackson: Conversations with an Elder
Eden Bart: Minnesota Humanities Center, Teaching American Indian Content to All
Registration
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Peter - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2023-06-19 17:30 - 19:30 | St. Peter High School, 2121 Broadway Ave, St. Peter, MN, 56082, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance. Following, on February 3rd, 2023, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Minnesota. Although awareness has grown, many people are still unfamiliar with why we celebrate Juneteenth and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie are proud to bring Kumbayah the Juneteenth Story to St. Peter and Mankato communities in collaboration with the following local host partners: True Essentials Consulting, Juneteenth Foundation, and St. Peter Area Public Schools.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story from iDream.tv on Vimeo.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute fictitious, two-act play that addresses a factual and traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer to be kept as slaves in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Registration
The evening performance is free to attend, but registration is highly recommended.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Rochester - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2023-06-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN, 55904, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance. Following, on February 3rd, 2023, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Minnesota. Although awareness has grown, many people are still unfamiliar with why we celebrate Juneteenth and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie are proud to bring Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story to Rochester area communities in collaboration with the following local organizations: Mayo Clinic, Rochester Branch of the NAACP, and Rochester Public Schools.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story from iDream.tv on Vimeo.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute fictitious, two-act play that addresses a factual and traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer to be kept as slaves in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Registration
The evening performance is free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Cloud - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2023-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Marcus Theatres, 1533 Frontage Road North, Waite Park, MN, 56387, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance. Following, on February 3rd, 2023, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Minnesota. Although awareness has grown, many people are still unfamiliar with why we celebrate Juneteenth and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie are proud to bring Kumbayah the Juneteenth Story to St. Cloud area communities in collaboration with host partner United Way of Central Minnesota and local organizations.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story from iDream.tv on Vimeo.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute fictitious, two-act play that addresses a factual and traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer to be kept as slaves in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Registration
The evening performance is free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Duluth - Minnesota Writers Series: The Sky Watched
2023-07-12 17:30 - 19:30 | American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), 202 West 2nd Street, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Author and poet Linda LeGarde Grover will be joining the Minnesota Writers Series for a special event in Duluth. In addition to reading selections from her recently re-released collection, The Sky Watched: Poems of Ojibwe Lives (University of Minnesota Press, 2022), Grover will also join in conversation with Dr. Jill M. Doerfler, head of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota-Duluth, about the joys and complexities of leading a life devoted to writing and poetry, and the ways in which poetry has connected her further to her Native culture. In celebration of poets at all stages of their writing journey, during the second half of the event, members of the audience will be invited to share their own poetry as time allows. Co-sponsored by the American Indian Community Housing Organization, also the host site for this event.
About the book: The Sky Watched is a collective memoir in poetry of an Ojibwe family and tribal community, from creation myth to this day, updated with new poems. The collection gives poetic voice, in English and Ojibwe, those assembled here—voices of history, of memory and experience, of children and elders, Indian boarding school students, tribal storytellers, and the Manidoog, the unseen beings who surround our lives—come together to create a collective memoir in poetry as expansive and particular as the starry sky.
About the author: Linda LeGarde Grover is professor emerita of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe. Her books The Road Back to Sweetgrass, Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year, In the Night of Memory, and Gichigami Hearts: Stories and Histories from Misaabekong, all from Minnesota, have earned numerous awards, including the Native Writers Circle of the Americas First Book Award; Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards for poetry, memoir, and fiction; and a Minnesota Book Award for memoir and creative nonfiction. Her book of stories The Dance Boots received the Flannery O’Connor Award and the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize.
About the moderator: Jill Doerfler is a professor and department head of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her primary area of scholarly interest is American Indian identity with a focus on Anishinaabe citizenship.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED
