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The Minnesota Humanities Commission announces: American Indian Histories and Cultures, a five-part teacher professional development series.

The Minnesota Humanities Commission is excited to announce its first teacher professional development series: five interrelated seminars on American Indian Histories and Cultures. These seminars focus on three American Indian groups that are important to Minnesota history: the Dakota, the Ojibwe, and the Plains Indians.

Designed to deliver levels of depth and breadth that are difficult to achieve in one stand-alone seminar, this series allows individual teachers, schools, or districts to determine the focus of their professional development. Teachers can choose from three broadly historical seminars (one each on the Dakota, the Ojibwe, and the Plains Indians), and two seminars that focus more exclusively on particularly significant historical moments: the Dakota Conflict of 1862, and the Ojibwe's experiences with treaties, allotments, and education in the late nineteenth century.

Seminar One: Dakota History and Culture
June 16-17, 2003
Held in Brown County, MN.
During this seminar we will explore cultural, social and historical resources as we learn about the Dakota presence in Minnesota. This seminar includes tours of the Lower Sioux Agency and the Brown County Historical Museum, presentations from local scholars, Dakota community members, and the National Museum of the American Indian, as well as a Friday evening event celebrating Dakota culture. Register Now!

Seminar Two: Ojibwe History and Culture
July 31-August 2, 2003
Held in Bemidji, MN.
This seminar focuses on the ways that language contributes to cultural experiences and exchanges. This seminar includes interactive workshops on history and culture, units on conversational Ojibwe, and presentations from the National Museum of the American Indian. The two days of this seminar will be followed by an additional day of community activity, including a local pow-wow. Register Now!

Seminar Three: Cultural Encounters:
The Dakota Conflict and Minnesota
Immigrants October 2003
Held in St. Paul, MN.
An opportunity to learn by doing, this seminar incorporates two learning tools for teachers: scholarship on the interactions among Dakota and white European immigrants preceding and during the Dakota Conflict of 1862, and an interdisciplinary curriculum developed by Galumph Interactive Theater. Register now at Register Now!

Seminar Four: Beauty, Honor, and Tradition:
The Legacy of Plains Indians Shirts January 2004
Held in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN.
This seminar explores the upcoming exhibition of Plains Indians Shirts at The Minneapolis Institute of Art. The shifting influences on the Plains Indians over the last two centuries-including the intertribal exploits of Plains warriors, the activities of white traders, and the forced settlement of Indian groups on reservations-all are reflected in changes in materials, styles, and pictorial content of Plains Indians shirts. Register Now!

Seminar Five: Learning and the Land:
The Impact of Government Treaties on
Ojibwe Education March 2004
Held in St. Paul, MN.
During the late nineteenth century, traditional Ojibwe ways of life were at risk. The land the Ojibwe could use to farm, hunt and fish had been greatly reduced by the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Nelson Act of 1889. In addition, Ojibwe children were being sent to government schools, often far from their homes and families. This seminar explores the immediate and long-term effects of allotment and government-imposed education on the Ojibwe. Register Now!

Cost: $125 for your first seminar and $50 for each additional seminar. Cost includes meals and materials, as well as overnight accommodations for those who need them. Learn more by visiting Minnesota Humanities online or register by way of the Teacher Professional Development web site.

This series is developed in partnership with numerous friends and supporters, including the Minnesota Historical Society, Bemidji State University, The American Swedish Institute, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Afton Historical Press, and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Funding for the series has been provided by the National Museum of the American Indian.

This announcement is sponsored by the Minnesota Humanities Commission. The Minnesota Humanities Commission inspires people to learn, to grow, and to give to their communities by providing leadership, resources, and programs that advance the study of the humanities - the foundation of democracy, government, and civil life - and that enhance the work of schools, colleges, and cultural organizations throughout our state. Learn more about MN-HC on the web.