Minnesota Humanities Center

St. Cloud and ONLINE - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
2022-08-11 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | 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

Minneapolis - Celebrate the Diversity of Latinx Language, Poetry, and Culture with Palabristas
2022-09-01 18:00 - 20:30 | El Colegio High School, 4137 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, United States
Minnesota is home to over 345,000 people of Latino/a/e/x descent – the fastest growing cultural community in the state. We often refer to all communities originating from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean countries as ‘Latin,’ without realizing the great diversity in culture, language, traditions and social customs in each one of these communities: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Colombian, Chilean, and others.
Build your cultural awareness as we learn about celebrate the diversity of Latino/a/e/x language, poetry, and culture with members of Palabristas – a community spoken word Latinx-Minnesotan collective. Activities will include poetry and spoken word performances, conversation and food sharing, and a creative writing activity. This event will be hosted at El Colegio – a Chicano-Latino South Minneapolis High School.
Registration
This event is open to anyone from middle school age through adult.
While there is no cost to attend, registration is requested.
Space is limited to 50 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 2 clock hours.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

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

Minneapolis - Why Treaties Matter
2022-09-19 - 2022-11-30 | University of Minnesota Communty of Scholars Program Lounge, 10 Church Street #375, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, 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

Learning in Community: North Minneapolis
2022-09-24 13:00 - 17:00 | Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55411, United States
Photos courtesy of MAAHM and King Neumel
North Minneapolis is rich in history, culture, and community inspiration. Build your cultural understanding and awareness of the African American community in North Minneapolis. This interactive, in-person experience will include a private tour of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, stories from community members on the impact of longtime Northside organizations, and samplings of food from local Black-owned restaurants. Participants are encouraged to reflect on the organizations and institutions that have nurtured and inspired them.
This event is a collaboration with the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery and the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC).
Registration
Space is limited to 40 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 4 clock hours.
If cost is a barrier, contact Jessica Rust, jessica@mnhum.org.
This event is open to all. Members of Minnesota’s African American community are welcome to register using promo code NORTHMPLS to waive the fee if they wish.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon: Musical Performance and Discussion
2022-09-25 13:30 - 15:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for a brand-new musical performance by Chione Quintet based on Twin Cities author Ka Vang’s Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon. This short chapter book, published by the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM) and the Minnesota Humanities Center in 2012, tells the story of Shoua, a Hmong American girl who discovers her voice as she saves an injured dragon while camping in the north woods of Minnesota. Hear this story set to beautiful and evocative music composed by fellow Minnesotan, Jocelyn Hagen, with narration by Ka Vang. Chione Quintet combines musical character themes with American Sign Language and will share the stories of each of their instruments and the ensemble they create–the wind quintet!
Hear from Sia Her, Executive Director of CAPM, about the project that led to the publication of this wonderful book and five others – The Reading Together Book Project, which addresses the importance of children’s books that speak to the rich and diverse cultural identities reflected in the U.S. You will also hear from author Ka Vang about the significance and impact the book and performance have had on her.
Children of all ages are welcome! There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Refreshments from a local Asian market will be served.
Chione [kiōn] is a Twin Cities-based woodwind quintet comprised of innovative and cross-disciplinary women. The unique and evolving medium provides an outlet to explore and create new sounds while redefining and rediscovering lesser-known music. Chione is committed to collaborating with professionals of all genres and creative outlets, with particular interests in commissioning new pieces and performing works by women artists. Throughout each endeavor, Chione aims to reach a wide range of audiences with the hopes of inspiring contemporary and aspiring artists as well as supporters of the arts.
Registration
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Stillwater - Why Treaties Matter
2022-09-28 - 2022-10-05 | Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 4th Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief
2022-09-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center welcomes the next author in our Minnesota Writers Series, Andrea Gilats, who will be reading from her book, “After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief.” In addition to talking about her own experience with grief following the death of her husband, Gilats will also discuss how the process of writing helped with her own healing and understanding. Following the reading, the author will be joined by Dr. Ben Trappey, co-director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for the Art of Medicine (CFAM), for a discussion on complicated grief and the healing benefits of writing, both physical and emotional.
Registration
While this program is free and open to all with registration, part of the CFAM’s mission is to cultivate creativity, curiosity and empathy in physicians and physicians-in-training through the arts and humanities. Medical professionals in attendance will have the opportunity to discuss their own complicated relationships with grief, perhaps intensified during our pandemic-ravaged world of loss and isolation.
A reception with heavy appetizers will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the talk from 6:30-8 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

Online - Truth, Equity, & Justice: How We Make Our Way Forward (Again) Together Conference
2022-10-06 09:00 - 16:00 | MN, United States
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Truth, Justice, and Equity conference will be held virtually. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we hope that you will be able to join us virtually for these important conversations.
Generations of scholars have argued that America will never be whole until reparations are provided for the moral debt created by slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the vestiges of the caste system it created. The international cry for justice after the murder of Mr. George Floyd and the stark racial disparities lead bare by the pandemic have renewed the sense of urgency around reparations and truth and reconciliation commissions.
The Center for the Study of Black Life and Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Justice and Equity Partnership invite you to join us for a day filled with song, poetry, and conversation about how we move toward justice with:

International renowned scholars and lawyers involved in securing reparations and creating Truth and Reconciliation commissions outside of the United States,
Community advocates pursuing reparations and the creation of Truth and Reconciliation commissions in Minnesota, and

Scholars and lawyers sharing insights concerning federal legislation involving reparations and the formation of truth and reconciliation commissions.

Invited guests include Virginie Ladisch, Senior Expert, Programs, at the International Center for Transitional Justice, Marcella Naidoo, former Regional Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa and Executive Director of the Black Sash, and Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison. This is a beginning, not an end. The event partners are planning a series of events in 2023 to continue this focus and work to transform our collective future.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. This event will be available to rewatch until October 30, 2022. Continuing Legal Education credits will be applied for post-conference for lawyers seeking such credits.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Minneapolis - Learning in Community: LGBTQ+ History in Downtown Minneapolis
2022-10-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College, 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
Photos courtesy of the Jean Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies and Hennepin County Library
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
Space is limited to 40 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours.
This experience involves approximately 2.5 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 CLOSED

Eagan - We Are Water MN
2022-10-13 - 2022-12-05 | Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN, 55123, 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: Dakota County
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
LEARN MORE

Hastings – We Are Water MN
2022-10-13 - 2022-12-05 | Pleasant Hill Library, 1490 South Frontage Road, Hastings, Minnesota, 55033, United States

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

St. Paul - Armed With Language: Film Talk
2022-10-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Plank Museum and Visitors Center at Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55111, United States
In the height of WWII, Historic Ft. Snelling was home to a little-known Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). Thousands of Nisei men and women (second generation Japanese Americans) were trained as linguists and translators and played a crucial role in helping the U.S. to end the war. They served in the U.S. military despite the fact that tens of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent were being imprisoned in concentration camps for the supposed security risk they posed to the country.
Their story is shared in the 2021 TPT documentary, Armed With Language. Join producer Katie O’Rourke as she engages the film’s writer David Mura, and Karen Tanaka Lucas who is featured in the film, in a reflective conversation, a year on from its debut. Along with viewing some of the film footage, Katie, David and Karen will explore why this history has remained so hidden from public knowledge, their personal stories and connections with MISLS, and the complicated histories that intertwine at the site of Historic Ft. Snelling. The conversation will end with a Q&A session with audience members.
Hosted by Historic Ft. Snelling, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, TPT Twin Cities, and the Twin Cities Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). This is a free event.
Registration
Doors of the Plank Museum and Visitors Center at Historic Fort Snelling will open at 5:15 p.m.; the event will begin at 6:00 p.m.in the Event Space on the second floor; audience members are invited to bring their curiosity and questions to share with the speakers.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

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

Online - Teaching Bdote
2022-11-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
Teaching Bdote: Tools for Teaching American Indian Content is designed for educators who have attended, or are planning to attend, Learning from Place: Bdote. This workshop is especially useful for developing unique classroom content to align with Minnesota State Social Studies Standards.
Offered in collaboration with Saint Paul Public Schools, this workshop will address the concerns and anxieties that non-indigenous educators may have around teaching Dakota content. A panel of teachers will share their experiences and learnings of leading their own Bdote tours with students. Educators will leave with new resources and content, deeper understanding, and ideas for how to lead a Bdote trip or to bring the experience into the classroom.
Teaching Bdote will be facilitated and presented by Ramona Kitto Stately, Ethan Neerdaels, and the Saint Paul Public Schools Center for Equity and Culture.
Registration
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the promo code FEEWAIVER (must be a Minnesota resident).
If you are a Saint Paul Public Schools educator, please register with promo code SPPS22.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 4, 2022
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Objects of War: A Storytelling Circle
2022-11-05 10:30 - 12:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center on Saturday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. for a storytelling circle centered around “Objects of War.” Whether dog tags of a family member lost in service, a good luck charm kept by a soldier, or a family heirloom that traveled across the world by a refugee, objects can hold deep meaning for those who have been impacted by war.
Participants are invited to bring their own object to share that helps them tell the story of their own connection to war, whether direct or indirect. Moderated by a Veteran and a refugee, the conversation will examine why we hold on to certain material objects, and how they can help us better understand the human experience of war. Noted photographer Xavier Tavera will be on hand to photograph interested participants with their objects. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
Registration
Registration is required for this free event. Open to the public; lunch will be provided.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Learning in Community: Hmong St. Paul
2022-11-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
There are nearly 300,000 Asian Minnesotans, more than 5% of our state’s population. Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese make up about 60% of the Asian population in Minnesota. Build your cultural understanding and awareness as you immerse yourself within St. Paul’s vibrant Hmong community through an interactive, in-person experience. The day will begin and end at the Minnesota Humanities Center. We will travel by bus to Hmong Cultural Center’s new storefront museum for a tour and special presentation. We will then visit the iconic HmongTown Marketplace (a market of 125 small businesses and food vendors) where we will be greeted by the owner to learn about his story and have a guided tour of the market. There will be time for independent shopping and lunch.
This is a collaboration with Hmong Cultural Center and HmongTown Marketplace.
Space is limited to 50 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 4 clock hours.
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.
Registration
Members of Minnesota’s Hmong community are welcome to register using promo code HMONGSTPAUL to waive the fee if they wish.
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

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

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: The Latitude of a Mercy
2022-12-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Poet Stefan Lovasik is the next featured author in our new Minnesota Writers Series. Lovasik, a Viet Nam combat veteran, has published three poetry collections. His most recent, The Latitude of a Mercy, was published by New York Quarterly Books. His work has appeared in national magazines such as American Literary Review, Consequence and New York Quarterly. He is a facilitator for Warrior Writers-Twin Cities and a staff editor for Pedestal Magazine. Lovasik’s work brings into striking focus the landscape of war; the lasting physical, moral and psychological consequences of it; and the resilience of the human spirit. He will discuss his latest collection, the power of writing as a tool for healing, and his work on his upcoming memoir. Introducing the poet and doing her own reading will be fellow Veteran Chante Wolfe, who is part of a Warriors Writers group with Lovasik.
Co-sponsored by Veterans For Peace.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

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 | 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
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself Book Launch
2023-02-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us in celebrating the release of David Mura’s new book, “The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself: Racial Myths and Our American Narratives”, released in January of 2023 by University of Minnesota Press. Following a reading of selections from the new book, Mura will be joined by best-selling author and President of Innocent Technologies Alexs Pate for a discussion on the issues of race, history and education. A book signing will follow the talk. Part of the Minnesota Writers Series. Co-sponsored by University of Minnesota Press.
About the book: From the country’s founding through the summer of Black Lives Matter in 2020, Mura’s new book unmasks how white stories about race attempt to erase the brutality of the past and underpin systemic racism in the present. Mura shows how deeply we need to change our racial narratives to dissolve the myth of Whiteness and fully acknowledge the experiences of Black Americans. Poet Douglas Kearney has said of Mura’s new book that it “offers what so many Americans claim they want: a rigorous education in perceiving themselves stripped of their dearest myths.”
About the author: David Mura is a poet, writer of creative nonfiction and fiction, critic, and playwright. He is author of “A Stranger’s Journey: Race, Identity, and Narrative Craft in Writing” and the memoirs “Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei” and “Where the Body Meets Memory: An Odyssey of Race, Sexuality, and Identity”. He is coeditor, with Carolyn Holbrook, of “We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World” (2021). He lives in Minneapolis.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
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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
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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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St. Paul - Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Black Joy
2023-02-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Engage in the cultural richness of food, music, and stories that define the essence of Black joy. Experience generations of family Creole recipes prepared by Chef Mateo Mackbee, Owner of Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph, MN to soulful healthy roots and blackeye peas prepared by Chef Lachelle Cunningham of North Minneapolis. Special music will be provided by Twin Cities’ vocalist, Ginger Commodore.
Chef Mateo Mackbee is a multiple award-winning chef whose restaurant Krewe, located in St. Joseph, MN, was recently selected by Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the 4 Best Restaurants worthy of traveling. Although raised in Minnesota, Mackbee’s childhood summers always included several hot steamy weeks in his mother’s hometown visiting relatives and experiencing Creole and New Orleans style food while learning to love its local foods, culture, music, and sense of community.
Chef Lachelle Cunningham is a dynamic force on the Twin Cities’ food scene and is known for cooking globally inspired comfort food that thwarts unhealthy stereotypes and fuses in global flavors. She is owner of Chelles’ Kitchen Catering, the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe in North Minneapolis. Her most recent creation is Healthy Roots Institute with a mission focused on healing and social justice through food education, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.
Ginger Commodore is a Twin Cities’ vocalist, songwriter, and actress. She performs jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, contemporary, and gospel music with regular appearances at The Dakota Jazz Club and Crooners Supper Club. Her theater work includes Penumbra Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, The Capri Theater, and more. Recently she debuted as Musical Director for the musical “Memphis” at Bloomington Center for the Arts.
Registration
Due to the focus of this program, the fee is waived for Black community members residing in Minnesota. You are invited to register with promo code COMMUNITY23.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED
