In order to implement its Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) projects, the Minnesota Historical Society employs an ACHF Program Coordinator to oversee the program administration. The Society is also supporting administration of the grants program and expanded financial management and administrative functions. The Society is diligently working to keep administrative costs low while adhering to the legislative mandate that costs be “directly related to and necessary for a specific appropriation.”
Included in this line are the direct costs of the Legacy project manager and related expenses, along with a portion of the statewide indirect costs billed by MMB. MNHS has followed the guidance provided by MMB in the calculation of the indirect cost rate, assessing the costs under the formula and calculation of the federal indirect cost rate as approved and audited by our cognizant federal agency, the Department of the Interior. This cost is allocated to the various projects.
OurHistory Adult Adoptee Retreats are for transracial adult adoptees, ages 21+. They are a series of two, 2-day retreats. This is a time for adoptees to come together in a safe space to share experiences and to learn and grow—both individually and as an adoptee community. It is a time to focus on our identities, both as adoptees and People of Color, living in the State of Minnesota.
The AgBMP Loan Program provides needed funding for local implementation of clean water practices at an extremely low cost, is unique in its structure, and is not duplicated by any other source of funding. The AgBMP loan program provides 3% loans through local lenders to farmers, rural landowners, and agriculture supply businesses. Funds are used for proven practices that prevent non-point source water pollution or solve existing water quality problems.
A robot, powered by solar energy, will be developed to control weeds on agricultural lands. We envision significant reductions in fossil-fuel and herbicide use while increasing local energy production.
The grant allowed the Cokato Historical Society to hire a vendor to scan 817 8x10 glass plate negatives from the Gust Akerlund Photographic Studio's negative collection, housed at the Cokato Museum. The total size of the Akerlund Negative Collection is 14,017 images. Of that amount, 11,552 are of the rare and fragile glass plate negative variety.
To stabilize, repair, and restore log components on the Alex Seitaniemi Housebarn, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, preparatory to implementation of interpretative programming for the public.
The Alexander Ramsey House is an 11,000-square-foot mansion that was home to Minnesota's first territorial governor. The mansion contains approximately 14,000 original furnishings and has one of the most intact collections of Victorian-era artifacts in the Midwest.
Despite these assets and a sound public educational program, the site has experienced a steady decline in attendance. Arts and Cultural Heritage funding is supporting a project to understand the reasons for this decline.
Widseth Smith Nolting (WSN) will evaluate and recommend to MPCA groundwater monitoring staff prospective sites/locations for the installation of groundwater monitoring wells to evaluate contaminant/pollutant concentrations from various sources. Peer will oversee the installation of monitoring wells by retaining a state drilling contractor or preparing bid documents to retain well driller through the Department of Administration. Superfund staff will assist in the project by providing oversight of contractual requirements and provide technical assistance as needed.
Widseth Smith Nolting (WSN) will evaluate and recommend to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) groundwater monitoring staff prospective sites/locations for the installation of groundwater monitoring wells to evaluate contaminant/pollutant concentrations from various sources. Peer will oversee the installation of monitoring wells by retaining a state drilling contractor or preparing bid documents to retain well driller through the Department of Administration.
Contractor assistance with site selection, reconnaissance and obtaining access for installation of ambient groundwater monitoring wells in Minnesota. This project will provide services for up to 25 well sites.
Contractor assistance with site selection, reconnaissance and obtaining access for installation of ambient groundwater monitoring wells in northcentral and northeastern Minnesota. This project will provide services and oversight of the installation for up to 31 well sites.
Recognizing the importance of hands-on learning, the Minnesota Historical Society developed new curriculum with a particular emphasis on American Indian history in Minnesota.
One activity from this curriculum allows students to create an Ojibwe shoulder bag. In another activity, students create a winter count, a tool used by the Dakota to record key historical events.
The MNHS permanent collection includes more than 6,500 objects related to American Indian culture and history. MNHS provides responsible stewardship of these items, in accordance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and industry standards for collections management. Meaningful partnerships with tribal communities are the key to successful stewardship. In FY16, MNHS continued collections outreach programming by partnering with Dakota tribes and Ojibwe bands throughout the state and beyond.
American Indian undergraduate students from across Minnesota participated in this unique intensive 17-day residential program. The students attended on-site presentations throughout Minnesota and experienced hands-on learning about the museum and archaeology fields and other historical and cultural preservation organizations. Students also learned about various career paths and academic requirements for working in these types of organizations, both on and off reservations, as well as challenges American Indian communities face related to preserving tribal heritage.
The Minnesota Historical Society Press publishes books relating to American Indian history to help people further understand the deep and continuing importance of these stories to modern life in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Historical Society was host to an American Indian Roundtable in spring 2014 for all tribes that have connections to Minnesota. This multi-day event covered topics such as language preservation, grant writing and a digitizing workshop to support the preservation of American Indian history and culture.
Partners: Minnesota Humanities Center, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
American Indian undergraduate students from across Minnesota participated in a unique summer educational experience. The students selected for this intensive three-week residential program attended classroom presentations and experienced hands-on learning about the museum field and other historical and cultural preservation organizations.
