“Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations” is a new traveling exhibition that will explore the Native nations in Minnesota and their history of treaty making with the United States. A public reception, planned for June 8, will run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, and include a 7 PM program featuring AnnaMarie Hill, director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and Tom Ross of the Minnesota Humanities Center. The exhibit consists of 20 colorful, free-standing banners with evocative text, significant historical images, and maps, combined with contemporary photographs from the tribes, a 14-minute video titled “A Day in the Life of the Minnesota Tribal Nations,” as well as shorter videos discussing various aspects of treaties and related topics. The exhibit will remain on display in Red Wing until July 6. Three additional programs are scheduled.
The first program will be held on June 12 at 7 PM with Fred Johnson, “Negotiating with the Mdewakanton.” A retired educator, Johnson is a former Red Wing resident and the author of several books on local history.
“Because of generous gifts from ADM, The Philip S. Duff Foundation, the Red Wing Human Rights Commission, and the Minnesota Humanities Center, the History Center will be able to offer free admission on the weekends during the run of this exhibit,” noted Char Henn, Director/CEO. “This is an important topic and we are grateful that we will have this opportunity to bring more people to see the exhibit while it is here.”
A collaboration of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, this project is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 and The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation.
