"Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations"
A Traveling Exhibit
October 23, 2011 through November 24, 2011
Traveling Exhibit
Visit a traveling exhibit exploring relationships between Dakota and Ojibwe Indian Nations and the U.S. government in this place we now call Minnesota. Learn, through a video presentation and 20 banners featuring text and images, how treaties affected the lands and lifeways of the indigenous peoples of this place, and why these binding agreements between nations still matter today.
Companion Website
While the traveling exhibit focuses on a single element of treaties - the sovereignty of Dakota and Ojibwe people today - the website presents relationships as a context for examining Dakota and Ojibwe - U.S. treaties.
Additional Events and Programming in conjunction with the "Why Treaties Matter" exhibit.
Tour the Herald J. Williams, Sr. Indian Building at the Mower County Historical Society, 1303 6th Ave. SW Austin, MN. October 24 - November 23, 2011. Open Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m. -4:00 p.m. $2.00 fee.
"Presentation: Land of the Dakota War 1862" Tuesday, November 8th - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Riverland CC, Austin East Building Library, Room N123 . John Grabko is a southeast Minnesota historian and alumni of Minnesota State University Mankato. Admission is free.
"Writing for Reflection" Wednesday, November 9th -7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Riverland CC, Austin East Building Library. Room N123 Join the Austin Area Writer's Group for a tour of the exhibit and then an opportunity to write about your reactions to the exhibit. Admission is free.
Riverland Generations Program Monday, November 14th , 2011 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Riverland CC Austin East Building, Room 127. Michael Eckers, author and historian residing in Southern Minnesota, presents on the Dakota War in 1862. Admission is free.
"Effects of Treaties on Native Land and Resource Patterns" Tuesday, November 15th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Riverland CC Austin East Building Room N123. Dr. Ronald Schirmer , Department of Anthropolgy, Minnesota State University Mankato discusses Native land and resource use patterns before contact with Europeans; how treaties impacted the traditional patterns and the results of the impacts. . Admission is free.
Two - Part Public Television series: Waasa Inaabidaa-We Look in All Directions -That Which is Given To Us" Thursday, November 17, 8:00 p.m. on KSMQ Public TV. Learn about traditional Ojibwe survival systems and the damaging effects of treaties and land loss on the Ojibwe. Economic reforms of the 1960s and 70's self-determination and contemporary court decisions affirming reserved rights to practice traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering are explored. See the Ojibwe people’s renewed economic sovereignty through new sources of financial stability including gaming, tribal businesses, and individual entrepreneurship.
Waasa Inaabidaa-We Look in All Directions - We Are All Related" Thursday, November 24, 8:00 p.m. on KSMQ Public TV. See how the land and lives of Ojibwe people were dramatically altered by Euro-American philosophies of resource exploitation, treaties, land ownership, and reservations. Witness Ojibwe self-determination in the late 20th century reconnecting the traditional Ojibwe relationship with all living things including the re-affirmation of off-reservation treaty rights for hunting, fishing, and gathering. Learn how contemporary Ojibwe tribal governments focus on positive natural resource management and a return to the understanding that " we are all related" on this earth.
