Online - Woman Life Freedom (3 part series)
2023-01-18 17:30 - 19:30, 2023-01-25 17:30 - 19:30, 2023-02-01 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
Illustration by Roshi Rouzbehani
*$30 is the fee for all three sessions. Participants must attend all three sessions.
This winter, MHC will be hosting a timely virtual course, Woman, Life, Freedom: The Iranian Women’s Revolution in Transnational Context, with Dr. Yalda Hamidi from Minnesota State University-Mankato. The Iranian Feminist Movement of the moment is the first female-led movement in the Middle East and the world, which received global support and transnational solidarities, and incited several national and regional feminist resistance movements in Afghanistan, Turkey, India, and more. Understanding this movement can change our knowledge of the “other women” and how we perceive them in America and will challenge how we locate our feminist demand here in Minnesota.
This virtual course will meet for three weeks, and participants will learn more about Iranian history and culture, women’s rights in Iran, and the current women’s revolution, using pre-assigned readings and primary resources to guide their discussions. Key speakers will also be involved in each session to contribute their perspectives and engage participants in conversation.
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.
View Full Bio
Schedule:
January 18, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
January 25, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
February 1, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Registration
*$30 is the fee for all three sessions. If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org.
Participants must attend all three sessions. Educators will receive 6 CEUs for this course. All are welcome to participate.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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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

St. Paul - Latine Hxstory and the Xican@ Pop-Up Book Movement
2023-02-11 09:00 - 15:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
This workshop will introduce teachers to the Xican@ Pop-Up Book (XPUB) movement that was developed by Dr. Elias Serna and John Avalos Rios as a response to the dismantling of the Mexican American Studies (MAS) Department in Tucson, Arizona. Participants will learn about the hxstorical significance of the XPUB movement in teaching hxstory in US schools that improves academics for Latine students, as well as associated controversies. In group discussion and hands-on activities, teachers will learn about incorporating the XPUB framework to teach Latine history and topics that are important to the community but are often left out of school curriculum, such as the 1968 East L.A. Walkouts, and the landmark case Mendez v. Westminster. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore how to use the pop-up book framework broadly in their classroom to transform curriculum and increase student engagement.
Scholar definitions:
*Hxstory is used to acknowledge the untold hxstories and the collective push to reclaim the lost
**The Xican@ Pop Up book (XPUB) Framework was designed to teach history and stories from students and community perspectives
***Latine is used instead of the Spanish use of masculine “o,” to include people of all genders
Scholar and Teacher Kleber Ortiz, Latino immigrant from Ecuador, is an instructor in the School of Education at Minneapolis College and adjunct professor at Hamline University. He has worked in the Education field for over 15 years, his teaching experiences include middle school, high school, post secondary, curriculum development and teacher professional development, planning and implementation. He has lead workshops at various events that focus on Ethnic Studies, Equity, Latine History, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Critical Literacy and closing the Opportunity Gap.
Lead Teacher Natalia Benjamin taught high school Ethnic Studies and Multilingual Learners in Rochester, MN for 7 years where she currently works as the Coordinator for Multilingual Learning. She is dually licensed in K-12 ESL and reading, and was named the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Natalia is passionate about the liberation of marginalized students and focuses on advocacy for multilingual/multicultural education, identity work, Heritage Speakers, language justice, and student-centered humanizing pedagogies. She is committed to teacher development and teaches a course for educators on Race and Ethnic Studies in Heritage/Bilingual education at UW-Whitewater as a guest professor.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering. Members of Minnesota’s Latino/a/x/e community are welcome to register using promo code LATINE to waive the fee if they wish.
K-12 educators will receive 6 clock hours.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

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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

Learning from Place: LGBTQ+ History in Downtown Minneapolis
2023-07-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Loring Community Arts Center, 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
Minneapolis-Saint Paul is far from being flyover country; our metro area has some of the richest and deepest LGBTQ+ history in all of North America. Grow your understanding of this history with an interactive, in-person walking tour of downtown/central Minneapolis, an area deeply entangled with LGBTQ+ people’s stories, movements, and place in the world.
Be immersed by traveling through downtown Minneapolis, interspersing history with storytelling from local LGBTQ+ activists and artists. Learn about how down-and-out drifters in the notorious Gateway District helped shape a Twin Cities gay identity, how lesbians threw parties in deserted industrial warehouses, how gay and lesbian political power was built in response to police raids, and how one of the first Pride festivals grew from a ragtag group marching up Nicollet Mall.
We hope you’ll come along!
This event is a collaboration with Telling Queer History.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours.
This experience involves approximately 2 miles of walking and standing, starting and ending at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Audio headsets will be provided for amplification of the tour guide and storytellers.
This event is open to all. Members of Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community are welcome to register using promo code LGBTQ-HISTORY to waive the fee if they wish.
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for all Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the promo code FEEWAIVER.
Registration for this event has SOLD OUT.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Teachability Factors in General and Special Education: Harnessing Adult Data for Change
2023-07-27 09:00 - 15:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for a special training for building and district administrators and school board leaders with Dr. Keith Mayes and Maria Roberts on Teachability Factors and Adult Data in General and Special Education.
As school districts examine and employ student data in the modification of their classroom practices, few researchers have called for a deep examination of adult data, and how it can be harnessed for change. Through the lens of racialized special education, this session will examine a broad spectrum of adult data in the areas of tolerability, efficacy, mindset, and relationships. We will demonstrate that when we refuse to look at school wide or adult data, we run the risk of believing students and families are inherently flawed. Educators most often find these “flaws” in our minoritized students and communities. When we refuse to interrogate the system, we believe it is functioning appropriately. We transfer the “problems of a system” to create the “problem student.”
During this workshop, participants will:

Deepen their knowledge of the racialized history of special education and make connections to current practice.
Reflect on current instructional practices and teachability factors in order to improve support for effective instruction.
Identify current sorting and removal practices within their own districts that create inequitable outcomes within both special and general education.
Consider how the implementation of tools or practices have either replicated or changed student outcomes.

This event is open to all Minnesota superintendents, school board members, equity directors, principals, district-level administrators, special education directors and assistant directors.
Registration fee includes:

Continental breakfast, lunch, and snack
6 CEUs
A copy of “The Unteachables: Disability Rights and the Invention of Black Special Education” ($30 value)

Dr. Keith Mayes is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota; former chair of the Department of African American & African Studies; and the Horace T. Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor. Dr. Mayes earned his Ph.D. in History from Princeton University. His teaching and research interests include the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements; education policy and history; and the history of African Americans. Dr. Mayes published a new book entitled, The Unteachables: Disability Rights and the Invention of Black Special Education (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2023).
Dr. Mayes provides consultant, professional development, and training services in the areas of DEI; curriculum development; ethnic and social studies, and special education. Some of his current and former clients include the Omaha Public Schools; Minneapolis Public Schools; St. Paul Public Schools; District 196-Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount Public Schools; Independent School; District 194 (Lakeville, MN); District 833-South Washington County Schools; Anoka-Hennepin Schools; Stillwater Area High School; Mankato Area Public Schools; National Geographic; the History Channel; the Minnesota Humanities Center; and the Minnesota Department of Education. Dr. Mayes has lectured widely throughout the Twin Cities Metro area in K-12 schools, churches, municipal governments and corporations. He has appeared on various media outlets, such as MSNBC, CBS, KMOJ, KARE-11 News, WCCO Channel 4, KSTP, Minnesota Public Radio, Radio Minnesota, KFAI, and National Public Radio.
Maria Roberts has worked in public K-12 educational systems for over 20 years. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher and has worked in federal settings I, II and III. She has experience in serving at all three school levels (elementary, middle and high school) and has served in both urban and suburban school districts. She has held leadership positions at both the district and school level including AVID District Director, Equity Director, and Associate Principal. She is the current principal of Wilshire Park Elementary School in the St. Anthony-New Brighton School District.Each experience has provided her the opportunity to successfully evaluate and implement equitable policy and practices resulting in changes in curriculum and instruction, grading and discipline practices.
In addition to her work in school systems, she actively supports learning and leadership among colleagues and values partnership between practitioners and academics. For the past five years, she has served as the Senior Facilitator for the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute and is a facilitator for the MN Principals Academy where, in partnership, she designed the culturally responsive leadership strand.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Learning from Place: St. Paul's Little Africa
2023-07-27 11:00 - 14:00 | Snelling Cafe and Restaurant, 638 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, 55104
Minnesota is home to over 150,000 Africans, including the largest Somali population outside of Africa. Yet, many people are not aware of the rich cultural traditions and assets African immigrants and refugees bring to the vibrancy of our state. Build your cultural understanding and awareness of Minnesota’s East African cultures as you immerse yourself within St. Paul’s Little Africa cultural corridor. This interactive, in-person experience will include an Ethiopian coffee ceremony at Sabrina’s Cafe & Deli, a tour of several African-owned businesses, and lunch at the Eritrean-owned Snelling Cafe.
This event is a collaboration with African Economic Development Solutions.
Registration
Space is limited to 40 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours.
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Members of Minnesota’s African communities are welcome to register using promo code LITTLEAFRICA to waive the fee if they wish.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Learning from Place: Bdote
2023-09-09 08:30 - 14:30 | Indian Mounds Regional Park, 10 Mounds Blvd, St. Paul, 55106
Learning from Place: Bdote is an immersive experience that brings participants to sites of great significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Participants will learn from Dakota community members through stories and histories that have often been left out of our state’s history. This experience is open to the general public and is particularly beneficial for educators who want to include new perspectives in their history curriculum.
Learning from Place: Bdote will begin at Indian Mounds Park in St. Paul. We will also be visiting Fort Snelling State Park (parking permit is required) and Pilot Knob Preservation Site. We will be outside the entire time. Participants need to provide their own transportation, lunch, snacks and beverages.
K-12 educators will receive 5 clock hours.
Indigenous people of this place have the longest relationship to the land. Because of the nature of this program and experience, the fee is waived for indigenous participants. Contact Eden Bart at eden@mnhum.org before registering.
This experience involves nearly 1.5 miles of walking throughout the day, sometimes on unpaved paths, as well as standing for periods of time. We do provide audio headsets for amplification of the tour guides and to support social distancing. For specific inquiries about accessibility, please contact Eden Bart at eden@mnhum.org or 651-772-4261.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Registration for this event has SOLD OUT. We are no longer accepting registrations for the Waitlist.
Want to know more about Learning from Place: Bdote?
Learn more about the Learning from Place: Bdote offering.

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Birmingham, AL – There IS a Balm in Gilead: Healing from the Events of 1963 National Conference
2023-09-12 - 2023-09-14 | Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, 2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL, 35203, United States
This year, 2023, the City of Birmingham commemorates sixty years since the Birmingham campaign for civil and human rights. As a part of the commemorative events, The Historic Bethel Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama, is pleased to announce its conference on individual and community healing.
The conference theme is “There IS A Balm in Gilead: Healing From The Events of 1963.” The conference will take place September 12-14, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. What happened here in 1963 changed not only the city but inspired similar movements for human and civil rights across the nation and around the world.
Those directly and indirectly involved in the Modern Civil Rights Movement were significantly affected by the events of the 1950s and 1960s. Survivors still express remorse and weep whenever they share what they experienced during that time. The goal of the conference is to open doors of communication that will help foster healing for those victims directly and indirectly as well as the community as we unpack a legacy of hurt and shame. It has been well documented that the physical, emotional, mental, and intergenerational effects of trauma have lasting effects on individuals and communities. There IS A Balm in Gilead!
The There IS A Balm in Gilead Healing Conference is hosted by the Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund, The Minnesota Humanities Center, and the Alabama Humanities Alliance.
Registration
Registration for this event has closed.

Staples - Including An Indigenous Lens that Honors the Past, Present, and Future
2023-10-05 08:30 - 15:00 | Sourcewell, 202 12th Street NE, Staples, MN, 56479, United States
Did you know that Minnesota is home to 11 federally-recognized tribes? Do you know whose ancestral lands your school is now occupying? In this session of Excavating Excellence: A Speaker Series and Cohort offered by Sourcewell, we will excavate a perspective that is too often minimized, misrepresented, or sometimes completely absent: the perspective of our nation’s first people. Join us as we hear first-hand accounts from a panel of regional, native voices sharing about schooling experiences. In addition to our panel, we will hear from experts from the Minnesota Humanities Center and Understand Native Minnesota as they lead us through how to find and implement resources from an Indigenous lens that honors the past, present, and future.
This session is part of the Excavating Excellence Speaker Series offered by Sourcewell.
Registration
Registration Questions: education@sourcewell-mn.gov
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Online - Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series
2024-02-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Session 1: Book Bans and the Freedom to Read
Issues related to gender and sexuality continue to be paramount in many areas, including politics, law, health care, parenting, identity, and social justice. In this three-part discussion series, we will consider how gender and sexuality are refracted, or how their meaning and social expression are changing and moving as we think through the topics of book bans, transgender rights, and masculinity.
Books continue to be banned or challenged across the nation, and Minnesota is not exempt in that respect. Book bans have risen by a third over the past year in public schools, and many of these bans are targeting LGBTQ+ characters, themes, and intersectional identities. This session of Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series will examine the controversy over sexuality and book bans and provide an opportunity to hear directly from authors whose work has been challenged. Quatrefoil Library, a library and queer gathering space in the Twin Cities, will be in conversation with J.J. Austrian, author of Worm Loves Worm, Trung Le Nguyen, author of The Magic Fish, and Junauda Petrus, author of The Stars and the Blackness Between Them.
What you can expect from this series:

Scholars, experts, community members, and authors will share what the landscape looks like nationally and in Minnesota, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
Each session will have a resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Engage in small and large group discussions as well as exploring ways to effect change and take action.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend; sign up for one or all three sessions. Each session will take place virtually; a zoom link will be sent closer to the date of the session.
Educators can receive CEU’s for attending.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Online - Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series
2024-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Session 2: Transgender Justice
Issues related to gender and sexuality continue to be paramount in many areas, including politics, law, health care, parenting, identity, and social justice. In this three-part discussion series, we will consider how gender and sexuality are refracted, or how their meaning and social expression are changing and moving as we think through the topics of book bans, transgender rights, and masculinity.
In this session of Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series, our speakers will help to set the stage on the current landscape of transgender rights and issues nationally, and what is happening specifically within Minnesota. Brittany Stewart from Gender Justice, a Minnesota based organization advancing gender equity through the law, will be joined by Máel Embser-Herbert, professor emeritus, U.S. Army Veteran and an editor of With Honor and Integrity: Transgender Troops in Their Own Words, which shares personal stories from transgender people fighting for their right to serve in the U.S. military.
What you can expect from this series:

Scholars, experts, community members, and authors will share what the landscape looks like nationally and in Minnesota, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
Each session will have a resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Engage in small and large group discussions as well as exploring ways to effect change and take action.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend; sign up for one or all three sessions. Each session will take place virtually; a zoom link will be sent closer to the date of the session.
Educators can receive CEU’s for attending.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Prior Lake - Understand Native Minnesota Educator Academy
2024-02-21 08:30 - 16:00, 2024-03-14 08:30 - 16:00 | Mystic Lake Center, 2400 Mystic Lake Boulevard NW, Prior Lake, MN, 55372, United States
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, through its Understand Native Minnesota campaign, is hosting two free Educator Academy events on February 21 and March 14, from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. These one-day events offer professional development workshops to introduce K-12 educators to a variety of ways to teach Native American topics in classroom settings. They are intended for educators in Minnesota and will feature Native American authors, artists, and education experts. Continuing Education credits for teachers and administrators will be offered.
These events will be held at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Attendance is free of charge and meals (breakfast and lunch) will be provided. Each event is limited to 300 participants. These are the final Educator Academy events to be offered by the SMSC’s Understand Native Minnesota campaign.
The Minnesota Humanities Center will be presenting on Teaching American Indian Content to All, as well as tabling. If you plan to attend, please come by and say hello!
Registration
Registration Questions: info@understandnativemn.org
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Online - Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series
2024-02-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Session 3: Detoxing Masculinity
Issues related to gender and sexuality continue to be paramount in many areas, including politics, law, health care, parenting, identity, and social justice. In this three-part discussion series, we will consider how gender and sexuality are refracted, or how their meaning and social expression are changing and moving as we think through the topics of book bans, transgender rights, and masculinity.
Many experts agree that the men and boys of the United States are not ok. By many measures they are falling behind and many of the impacts are less widely talked about. This session of Refraction: A Gender and Sexuality Discussion Series will seek to pull apart the term toxic masculinity and look instead at detoxing masculinity. Hamline Professor Ryan Jerome LeCount will talk about masculinity and its social expression, particularly in the area of politics and social change in Minnesota and the United States. He will be joined by author Jeremy Norton, who recently published Trauma Sponges, a first-hand account of his experience working as an EMT in the emergency response sector, and what it means for a male-dominated industry to be both full of bravura heroics and deal with intense trauma on a daily basis.
What you can expect from this series:

Scholars, experts, community members, and authors will share what the landscape looks like nationally and in Minnesota, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
Each session will have a resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Engage in small and large group discussions as well as exploring ways to effect change and take action.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend; sign up for one or all three sessions. Each session will take place virtually; a zoom link will be sent closer to the date of the session.
Educators can receive CEU’s for attending.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium
2024-02-29 - 2024-03-01 | Treasure Island Resort, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN, 55089, United States
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting the 3rd annual Dakota & Ojibwe Languages Symposium! This two-day symposium will be held on Thursday, Feb. 29th and Friday, March 1st at Treasure Island Resort and Casino. The goal of the symposium is to bring people working in Dakota and Ojibwe language revitalization together. We will use this time to celebrate successes, highlight the current state of the field, shape future language revitalization efforts, and 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 and Ojibwe language professionals. The symposium will be held in-person and virtually for participants.
Registration
Breakfast and lunch are included for those attending in person. Participants are responsible for booking their own overnight accommodations if needed and can call Treasure Island Resort at 1-888-867-7829.
CEU’s will be available for educators attending the symposium.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
In-person spots have been filled. There are still spots available to attend virtually.
Register Now
Exhibitor Application
If you’re interested in tabling at the symposium, please complete the online application. We are willing to accommodate as many as we can. Priority will be given to those focusing on language revitalization. The final decision on selection will be determined by the Working Group.
Please note: No sales will be allowed at symposium. This application is meant for informational/educational booths that are handing out free information and literature, not selling items.
If you have any questions, please email skyler.kuczaboski@state.mn.us or call/text 651-304-4149.
Apply Online

Minneapolis - Learning from Place: Cedar-Riverside/West Bank
2024-04-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center, 420 South 15th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, United States
The Cedar-Riverside/West Bank neighborhood in Minneapolis is one of the most diverse communities in the Midwest, with a longstanding tradition of activism, cultural diversity, and the arts. The neighborhood has long been a landing place for newly arrived immigrants, with some moving on and some settling in the West Bank more permanently. Today the neighborhood is home to a large East African community, including Somali, Ethiopian, and Oromo people who live alongside neighbors and descendants from earlier waves of immigration. The West Bank continues to welcome new arrivals. Build your cultural understanding during this interactive, in-person experience that includes a walking tour with several stops led by Abdirizak Bihi, host of KFAI’s Somali Link Radio. A food sample from a local restaurant will be provided.
K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours.
This event is a collaboration with Pillsbury United Communities/Brian Coyle Center.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Space is limited to 40 participants.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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Learning from Place: Hmong St. Paul
2024-05-04 08:30 - 13:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for an immersive journey into the heart of St. Paul’s vibrant Hmong community! St. Paul is home to the largest Hmong population in the United States, with deep roots on the East Side. Our guide for the day is Chong Yang, a high school educator who grew up in the neighborhood after coming to Minnesota at the age of six from a refugee camp in Thailand. Our day begins and ends at the Minnesota Humanities Center. During a short bus tour, Chong will share insights and stories while pointing out Hmong businesses and landmarks, such as the Minnesota Memorial to The Special Forces in Laos, commemorating the Hmong involvement in the Southeast Asia War. Our first destination is the Hmong Cultural Center Museum where we will hear a special presentation and have time to explore the exhibits showcasing the rich heritage, traditions, and contributions of the Hmong people in Minnesota. Next, we will visit the iconic HmongTown Marketplace, home to 125 small businesses and food vendors. We will meet the owner and learn about his incredible story, followed by a guided tour of the bustling market. There will be time for independent shopping and lunch.
This is a collaboration with Hmong Cultural Center and HmongTown Marketplace.
K-12 educators will receive 4 clock hours.
Registration
Space is limited to 45 participants.
Please note: Registration cost does not include food. Participants are encouraged to support the financial recovery of small businesses by making purchases from the businesses they learn about on the tour. We recommend bringing cash, as not all vendors accept credit cards.
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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St. Paul – Learning from Place: Bdote
2024-05-18 08:30 - 14:30 | Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN, 55111, United States
Learning from Place: Bdote is an immersive experience that brings participants to sites of great significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Participants will learn from Dakota community members through stories and histories that have often been left out of our state’s history. This experience is open to the public and is particularly beneficial for educators who want to include new perspectives in their history curriculum.
Learning from Place: Bdote will begin at Fort Snelling State Park (parking permit is required). After a break for “lunch on your own,” we will meet at Indian Mounds Regional Park, followed by a visit to the Pilot Knob Preservation Site. We will be outside the entire time. Participants need to provide their own transportation, lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Your co-leads: Ramona Kitto Stately and Reuben Kitto Stately
Ramona Kitto Stately is an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Dakhóta Nation. She has a BA in Dakota Art and Culture and a MAE in Teacher Leadership. She is Project Director for We Are Still Here Minnesota and serves as chairperson of the Minnesota Indian Education Association. Ramona was the Recipient of the 2021 Ron McKinley Award from Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, currently serves as 2023’s Indigenous Elder in Residence for Carleton College, and McKnight Culture Bearers Award Recipient in March 2023.
Reuben Kitto Stately is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation and a member of the Santee Sioux Dakhóta Nation. He is an artist, composer, and rapper who performs under the name Kitto. He is a graduate of Augsburg University with a BA in American Indian Studies and a lifelong Dakhóta language learner. Reuben has been a member of the Minnesota Indian Education Board of Directors since 2019.
There will be about one mile of walking throughout the day, sometimes on unpaved paths, as well as standing for periods of time. We will provide audio headsets for amplification of the tour guides. For specific inquiries about accessibility, please contact Eden Bart at eden@mnhum.org or 651-772-4261.
K-12 educators will receive 5 clock hours.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Register Now
Want to know more about Learning from Place: Bdote?
Learn more about the Learning from Place: Bdote offering.

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Watch Learning from Place: Bdote, a video produced to celebrate 10 years of this powerful program.
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St. Paul – Learning from Place: Bdote
2024-06-10 08:30 - 14:30 | Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN, 55111, United States
Learning from Place: Bdote is an immersive experience that brings participants to sites of great significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Participants will learn from Dakota community members through stories and histories that have often been left out of our state’s history. This experience is open to the public and is particularly beneficial for educators who want to include new perspectives in their history curriculum.
Learning from Place: Bdote will begin at Fort Snelling State Park (parking permit is required). After a break for “lunch on your own,” we will meet at Indian Mounds Regional Park, followed by a visit to the Pilot Knob Preservation Site. We will be outside the entire time. Participants need to provide their own transportation, lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Your co-leads: Ramona Kitto Stately and Marlena Myles
Ramona Kitto Stately is an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Dakhóta Nation. She has a BA in Dakota Art and Culture and a MAE in Teacher Leadership. She is Project Director for We Are Still Here Minnesota and serves as chairperson of the Minnesota Indian Education Association. Ramona was the Recipient of the 2021 Ron McKinley Award from Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, currently serves as 2023’s Indigenous Elder in Residence for Carleton College, and McKnight Culture Bearers Award Recipient in March 2023.
Marlena Myles is an enrolled Spirit Lake Dakota artist located in St Paul, Minnesota. Her art brings modernity to Indigenous history, languages and oral traditions while using the land as a teacher. She has installed three site-specific augmented reality public art installations: the Dakota Spirit Walk (Saint Paul), the Sacred Hoop Walk (MN Landscape Arboretum) and the Wodakota Walk (Caponi Art Park). In 2023, she was awarded the Knight Arts + Tech Fellowship, Joyce Award and Rise25 Mozilla Honoree.
There will be about one mile of walking throughout the day, sometimes on unpaved paths, as well as standing for periods of time. We will provide audio headsets for amplification of the tour guides. For specific inquiries about accessibility, please contact Eden Bart at eden@mnhum.org or 651-772-4261.
K-12 educators will receive 5 clock hours.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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Learn more about the Learning from Place: Bdote offering.

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Watch Learning from Place: Bdote, a video produced to celebrate 10 years of this powerful program.
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St. Paul - Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery: Minnesota African American History
2024-07-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
K-12 educators are invited to attend this special film screening and discussion. Co-produced by OMG Studios and the Minnesota Humanities Center, this documentary challenges our understanding of slavery, its impact on Minnesota, and how we reconcile our past by taking viewers on a present-day journey to Ghana, to the quarters of Harriet and Dred Scott, and into conversations with current and future scholars. Featuring Akwamu Traditional Area’s King Odeneho Kwafo Akoto, III and Queen Mother Nana Afrakoma, II, of West Africa, Ghana, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III, MN Humanities CEO Kevin Lindsey, St. Cloud State University American Studies Chair and Minnesota Book Award Winner Dr. Christopher Lehman, and Minnesota creative treasures T. Mychael Rambo, Thomasina Petrus and concluding with voices of the Black Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC).
Following the 40-minute film, there will be a facilitated conversation on how to intentionally bring this history into classrooms.
K-12 educators will receive 2 clock hours.
This year’s documentary film is brought to audiences by Ujamaa Place, St. Paul Public Library, and the City of St. Paul.
Registration
There is no cost to attend this event, however registration is required. Refreshments will be provided.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
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Online - Resistance, Resilience & Reimagination Information Session
2024-07-22 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-22 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-08-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-08-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Join teachers of color and American Indian teachers from across the state in a year-long program designed to engage participants in navigating education systems with resistance, resilience, and reimagination. A partnership between Intermediate School District 917, Metro State University, and MHC, this PELSB (Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board) funded program provides free of cost and paid stipend opportunities for participants.
Register for one of four information sessions to learn more about this opportunity for teachers of color and American Indian teachers.

Monday July 22, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Monday July 22, 2024, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Monday August 5, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Monday August 5, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
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Onamia - American Indian Education in Minnesota 101
2024-07-23 08:00 - 2024-07-24 16:00 | Grand Casino Mille Lacs, 777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN, 56359, United States
In April 2019 Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan performed a ceremonial signing of Executive Order 19-24 (which came into law in 2023) with several Tribal leaders and officials. Photo by Melanie Franks
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce a significant training opportunity designed in collaboration with Tribal Nations and the urban American Indian community in Minnesota. This training program is specifically tailored for school district administrators, staff, school board members, and educators to enhance their understanding and engagement with Native learners and families.
The primary goal of this training is to equip K-12 educators, staff, and administrators with the knowledge and tools necessary to serve American Indian students and foster positive relationships effectively. Participants will gain insights that they can apply directly in their teaching practices and community interactions.
This training has been developed in partnership with MDE, University of Minnesota Duluth – Tribal Sovereignty Institute, the Minnesota Department of Transportation – Tribal State Relations Training, and the Minnesota Humanities Center.
We look forward to welcoming you to this important initiative aimed at strengthening our collective commitment to Native education and community engagement.
Visit the MDE Tribal Relations Training web page to learn more and to access the two free pre-requisite online courses.
Lodging
Lodging is recommended at Grand Casino Mille Lacs (777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN 56359 – same location of the two-day training). Rooms are $99.00 – 109.00 per night plus taxes and fees until July 8, 2024. Call Grand Casino Mille Lacs at 800-626-5825 and mention code TDE722M for the training block (or enter the code when you register online).
District Reimbursement
District Reimbursement Application – MDE Tribal Relations Training – District Reimbursement Application (office.com)
This form must be completed if a district would like to receive the reimbursement of $500 per participant. The payments will be processed by MDE after the training.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. Please complete the registration form for each individual attending.
K-12 educators, staff, and administrators will receive 13.5 clock hours upon completion of the training.
Registration Questions: Contact Melanie Franks — MDE Tribal Liaison at melanie.franks@state.mn.us.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Birmingham, AL - Alabama Civil Rights Field Study
2024-08-04 - 2024-08-10 | Sonesta Inns and Suites, 50 State Farm Pkwy, Birmingham, AL, 35209, United States
The Alabama Civil Rights Field Study offers a profound, seven-day, six-night exploration into the heart of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. This immersive experience is designed for educators who seek to deepen their understanding of the pivotal role that Alabama played in making the promises of the U.S. Constitution a greater reality for more Americans and its ties to Minnesota today. Journey through key historical sites in Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery, and witness firsthand the landmarks of courage and struggle that changed our nation.
Using a combination of lectures, first-hand accounts from history makers, travel, and primary and secondary source documents, educators will examine how the political, social, economic, and cultural institutions of the United States of America were changed as a result of the events that took place in Alabama.

St. Paul - Fall Metro Indian Education Gathering
2024-10-02 11:00 - 13:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for the Fall Metro Indian Education Gathering hosted at the Minnesota Humanities Center. Anyone connected to American Indian Education and/or American Indian students are welcome to attend. Lunch will be served potluck style. A main dish will be provided. Please register so we can plan accordingly and bring a side dish or dessert to share!
Our tentative agenda is:

Updates from Dr. Jane Harstad, Office of the American Indian Education (MDE).
An open discussion on how American Indian Education programs can help support one another

If you have a topic you would like to add to the agenda please contact Robin Nelson at rnelson4@isd622.org.
About the Metro Indian Education Gathering
The Metro Indian Education Gathering is a group of urban American Indian Educators that come together on a regular basis, 2-3 times a year to share ideas and discuss challenges while celebrating successes. We create a space for networking and access to people who can help navigate the rules and regulations governing American Indian Education programs. This group has been meeting since January 2013 but COVID discontinued our meetings. The group relaunched at the Minnesota Indian Education Association Conference on April 19, 2023 and resumed regular in-person gatherings Fall 2023.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED
