Why Treaties Matter Exhibit


Photo by Gary Padrta, White Earth Nation.
Exhibit at White Earth Tribal Headquarters		 In August 2010, a resolution creating a unique partnership of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. was approved by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and made it possible for this exhibition to be developed as an educational tool for Minnesota audiences.

This partnership led to the creation of an exhibit unique in its community-based approach.  From its inception, the knowledge, insight, and perspective of tribal members have been the foundation upon which this exhibit was developed.  From this foundation of community involvement has emerged a vehicle for an unfiltered, authentic Dakota voice and Ojibwe voice upon which these communities tell their own stories of sovereignty, adaptability, and preparing tribes to thrive.

Resolution Excerpt: Be it Finally Resolved that the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council supports the work initiative by the Minnesota Humanities Center in the development of the partnership between the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and the first ever Minnesota American Indian Treaties project in the state of Minnesota.  August 24, 2010
 
Learn more about the Humanities Center's work with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.

Traveling Exhibit

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.

Exhibit Itinerary (PDF)

Meet our Site Selection Committee (PDF)

In the News

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.

Dakota and Ojibwe-U.S.Treaties Today
Learn from tribal members in Minnesota as they discuss treaties from a personal and scholarly perspective. How do these videos challenge or reinforce your current perceptions of treaties?
 

Follow the exhibit on Facebook

A Day in the Life of Minnesota Tribal Nations is a 14 minute video production by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, created in partnership with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Why Treaties Matter Program Development
Learn how Dakota communities and Ojibwe Tribal Nations led the exhibit development process and hear what community members are saying about the exhibit.


 

Traveling Exhibit Host Sites

(All Site are in Minnesota)
2011
Aug 3-30 White Earth Reservation, Ogema
Aug 3-21 Grand Portage Museum, Grand Portage
Sept 3-29 Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake
Oct 3-31 Becker County Historical Society, Detroit Lakes
Oct 23-Nov 23 Riverland Community College, Austin
Nov 3-17 Bemidji State University, Bemidji
Nov 17-30 Beltrami County Government Center, Bemidji
Dec 2-20 Northland Community Schools, Remer
(Weekdays 3:30-8 p.m.)
Dec 3-31 Red Lake Nation, Red Lake

 		 2012
Jan 2-31 Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter
Jan 24-31 North Corridor, State Capitol Building, St. Paul
Feb 8-March 7 Carver County Historical Society, Waconia
March 1-31 Native American Community Development Institute, Minneapolis
April 3-6 Rosemount High School, Rosemount (Open to the Public Monday-Friday, 7-3:30)
April 7-11 Eagan High School, Eagan (Open to the Public Monday-Friday, 7-3:30)
April 12-16 Eastview High School, Apple Valley (Open to the Public Monday-Friday, 7-3:30)
April 17-20 Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley (Open to the Public Monday-Friday, 7-3:30)
April 23-27 North Hennepin Community College, Brooklyn Park
April 28 Osseo School District Indian Education Day, Osseo
May 1-30 Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul
May 7-17 American Indian Magnet School, St. Paul		 2012 (cont'd)
May 28-June 25 Fond du Lac Cultural Center and Museum, Cloquet
June 8-July 7 Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing
July 1-31 Minnesota Valley History Center & Dakota Wicohan, Morton
July 16-Aug 15 Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Aug 13-Sept 10 Boise Forte Heritage Center, Tower
Aug 23-Sept 22 Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul
Sept 29-Oct 4 Upper Sioux Community, Granite Falls
Oct 1-31 Winona County Historical Society, Winona
Oct 25-Nov 12 Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie
Nov 5-16 Bethel University, Arden Hills
Nov 8-Dec 15 Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet
Nov 28-Feb 28 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prior Lake
Dec 10-21 Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul
Jan 3-31 Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul

Learn more about how funds from the Legacy Amendment are being used on Minnesota's Legacy: Watch  the Progress.

 

In the News

Exhibit talks treaties, tragedy and revitalization
Advocate Tribune, October 12, 2012

For the Dakota, now is a time for revitalization
West Central Tribune, October 8, 2012

Staff Reflections: Why Treaties Matter to the Nonprofit Sector
Charities Review Council, Smart Giving Matters, September 17, 2012

Treaties Exhibit at Bois Forte (PDF)
Eh? Plus, August 14, 2012

Native American History (PDF)
Mesabi Daily News, August 11, 2012

Why Treaties Matter Exhibit Coming to Bois Forte (PDF)
Hometown Focus, August 10, 2012

Treaties Still Matter in Minnesota (PDF)
National Endowment for the Humanities Website, April 4, 2012

Apple Valley Schools to Host Exhibit of Dakota, Ojibwe Treaties With U.S. (PDF)
Apple Valley Patch, March 16, 2012

Treaty History Comes to Franklin Avenue (PDF)
Star Tribune, March 5, 2012

New Native American Exhibit Comes to St. Peter (video)
KEYC TV Mankato, January 5, 2012

1862 Programs Start in January 2012 (PDF)
St. Peter Herald, December 21, 2011

Traveling Exhibit Educates Minnesotans About Tribal Self-Government (PDF)
Insight, National Museum of the American Indian, Fall/Winter 2011

Why Treaties Matter (PDF)
American Indian Magazine, Winter 2011

A Nation of Treaties (PDF)
Humanities: The Magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities, November/December 2011

 		 Press Release: Traveling "Why Treaties Matter" Exhibition has a New Website (PDF)
October 31, 2011

Riverland to host traveling exhibit on state's native nations (PDF)
Albert Lea Tribune, October 20, 2011

Exhibit on tribal treaties opens in St. Paul (PDF)
Minnesota Public Radio, October 7, 2011

Treaties Between the U.S. Government and Native Americans Matter (PDF)
Indian Country Today, September 13, 2011

In Focus -- Why Treaties Matter (video)
Lakeland Public Television, September 9, 2011

White Earth Rolls out Red Carpet for Treaties Exhibit
Anishinaabeg Today, September 7, 2011

Why Treaties Should Matter to Everyone in Minnesota (PDF)
Chairman Kevin Leecy, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, September 1, 2011

Martha Fast Horse Show (podcast)
August 14, 2011 Special guests David O'Fallon, Ph.D., Minnesota Humanities Center, and Mona Smith, Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Allies Media/Art

Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations (PDF)
News from Indian Country, August 8, 2011

Martha Fast Horse Show (podcast)
July 31, 2011 Special guests Annamarie Hill, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and Mark Hirsch, Ph.D., National Museum of the American Indian

The Winona County History Center will host "Why Treaties Matter" October 1-31, 2012 (PDF)
The Winona Post, June 29, 2011

Press Release: Why Treaties Matter  Exhibit Launches August 2011 (PDF)

Smithsonian asks Minnesota Tribes for help with new exhibit (podcast)
July 26, 2010 All Things Considered Special Guest Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian

 

Resources

American Indian Responses to Statehood
In the months leading up to the state of Minnesota's sesquicentenial, the Minnesota Humanities Center began working with Dakota and Ojibwe people to record stories of how statehood affected their homes, their familes, their future.

Bdote Memory Map
The Bdote Memory Map is a geography-based, digital media resource for Dakota people to express connections to traditional places and to help non-Native citizens see Minnesota from an indigenous point of view.

Map of major land cessions in Minnesota treaties (PDF)

Treaties involving Indigenous people and land with Minnesota Territory (PDF)

Play the quiz: How much do YOU know about about treaties? (will download a PowerPoint onto your computer)		 Did You Know?


This work is funded in part by The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation.