The Division of Indian Work’s First Language Project will service youth who attend Minneapolis Public Schools. The goal of this grant is that American Indian youth, ages 7-17 will increase their knowledge and practice of conversational Ojibwe language. Additionally, the goal is that these students will continue to study the language after the grant cycle is over. Measurement of these goals will be determined through periodic testing of the Ojibwe language acquisition.
The MNHS Indian Advisory Committee (IAC) is made up of representatives appointed by the 11 federally recognized tribes in Minnesota and other educators. IAC advises on planning, development and evaluation of MNHS activities and initiatives, including exhibits, publications, public programs, and curatorial policy as they relate to the research, collection, preservation and interpretation of Minnesota and American Indian history in Minnesota. Relationships among IAC members, MNHS and tribal communities are supported by three annual meetings held in tribal communities around the state.
To record, transcribe, and translate Ojibwe language oral histories that will be used to augment Oshkaabewis Native Journal, and digitally add the journal and back issues to the Bemidji State University website.
"Minnesota and the Civil War," a new 5,000-square-foot exhibit opening at the Minnesota History Center March 2, 2013, will reveal the words and actions of Minnesotans who lived during the war. Minnesota responded first in the nation and, fighting in almost every major battle, Minnesotans were among the most tested and honored in the Union Army. Stories of soldiers and their loved ones at home will be drawn from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections: letters, diaries, memoirs and reminiscences that capture the personal impact of this tumultuous period.
A prominent county courthouse, a Depression-era school building, an iconic Modern ice-cream stand, and a Northern Minnesota lakeside overlook are among the diverse sites named to the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s 2010 list of the state’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places.
A photographic exhibit featuring the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2010 was created with MHCG funds and displayed at museums, libraries, and other public places statewide throughout the year.
-Train 30 students in transcription methods and techniques, conduct transcription projects
-Identify and train 3 language specialists to work with elders in developing and recording audio vocabulary for existing Ojibwemotaadidaa immersion curriculum
-Language fair
-Produce a play script and audio-animated video in Ojibwe based on traditional story
-Publish collection of Ojibwe stories with photographs and an audio CD
Partner: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM)
MALHM fosters collaborative local history projects, communicates curatorial and educational information and encourages professionalism among local and specialized historical organizations in Minnesota. This partnership provides a means to evaluate MALHM's mission, vision and goals for continued relevancy, to implement a secure means of communication for member history enterprises and to develop a two-day intensive annual training.
The goal of the Historic Old Highland Project is to use the social history and architectural documentation to update and expand an existing self-guided Walking Tour Guide of significant properties in the Old Highland neighborhood.
Minnesotans of all ages are participating in deep intergenerational learning experiences by working together to document community history and create lasting products (exhibits, documentaries, audio tours etc.) that are shared with their communities. These intergenerational collaborations build relationships among members of older and younger generations, increase students" appreciation for Minnesota history and recognize the importance of older adults and their role in transmitting community history.
The overall purpose of this initiative is to welcome more American Indians into the University to increase the number of speakers of the Dakota and Ojibwe languages. This will be done by the enrollment of adults in the Dakota and Ojibwe language immersion model classes, as well as, enrolling youth into the youth classes. The University will offer immersion model 100-level courses in Dakota and Ojibwe languages and provide scholarships to ensure accessibility and participation.
Grant Activities: The goal of this grant is to support students’ acquisition of the Ojibwe and Dakota language and culture which begins in early childhood immersion at Anishinabe Academy by providing a language and culture table for their families. The Mino-Bimaadiziai/Chante Luta Language and Culture Table will focus on words, place names, and serve to build a non-threatening environment where parents, community members, and schools professionals will grow and develop.
To expand on the weekly language classes already offered at the Indian center by providing an immersion language class where only the targeted language is spoken. This will provide participants with the opportunity to, not only become proficient in the targeted language, but also to gain a deep understanding of its culture, values, spirituality.
The objective of this grant is to prevent the Ojibwe language loss, to increase and enhance the understanding of the American Indian language, to ensure positive reinforcement of the self-image and sense of identity with the empowerment of American Indian children. This will be done by offering and participating Ojibwe language competitions with other colleges, as well as, by offering immersion camps, fluent speakers in the classrooms, and language tables. Additionally, the youth will visit maple sugar and wild rice camps.
Through a competitive process, the Heritage Partnership Program awards grants to historical organizations statewide to support programs that will build the capacity of partnering organizations to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota's history and cultural resources. The program supports the creation and development of sustainable, history-based partnerships throughout the state.
MNHS is promoting the "Then Now Wow" exhibit at the Minnesota History Center to ensure that Minnesota families, schoolchildren and teachers are aware of, and therefore visit, the exhibit to learn about the history of our state. The marketing program to date is extremely successful. Family attendance increased 73% and school group attendance increased 19% from FY12 to FY13.
-Train 30 students in transcription methods and techniques, conduct transcription projects
-Identify and train 3 language specialists to work with elders in developing and recording audio vocabulary for existing Ojibwemotaadidaa immersion curriculum
-Language fair
-Produce a play script and audio-animated video in Ojibwe based on traditional story
-Publish collection of Ojibwe stories with photographs and an audio CD
In May 2009, the Minnesota State Legislature asked the Minnesota Humanities Center and four state councils-the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Council on Black Minnesotans, the Chicano Latino Affairs Council, and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans-to collaboratively create new programs and events that celebrates and preserves the artistic, historical, and cultural heritages of the communities represented by each council.
-Ojibwe curriculum k-12
-Language tables
-Public Awareness through city signage in Ojibwe
-Transfer of recordings of elder Ojibwe speakers from cassette to CD (35)
MNHS and regional public libraries across Minnesota are combining resources to educate, entertain, and build community among library patrons in the state. Libraries and MNHS are bringing a range of programs and events to local libraries that document and preserve community stories for future generations, educate people of all ages about the history of Minnesota and its people, and make high quality history programming accessible to
all Minnesotans.
More than 60 programs were presented in dozens
of communities around the state, including:
To bring together a diverse assortment of educational opportunities to one location and provide an easily accessed way for all ages and backgrounds to enhance their knowledge of the arts, culture and heritage. The McLeod County Fair connected with community people from multiple communities and backgrounds by hosting presentations and demonstrations by local artists and experts within the areas of the arts, cultural heritage and Minnesota history.
-Engage young children, strengthen families' cultural wellness through Indigenous language acquisition
-Revitalize cultural parenting practices
-Teaching parents to be advocates of holistic health for children
-Enroll 12-15 children and their families
-Bi-weekly language nest sessions with focus on language and cultural identity
Offer Fond du Lac Family language camp. Receive training for Ojibwe language immersion teaching. Develop Ojibwe immersion curriculum. Publish 2,000 copies of Daga Anishinaabemodaa with illustrations and audio CD. Establish feeder college and pre K-12 school network. Draft guidelines and establish elder-student apprenticeships. Set up and announce website. Accept students and pre K-12 teachers for Ottertail language camp for summer 2011 and promise financial support. Evaluate all grant activities.
MNHS continued to support opportunities to help students, teachers and the public learn about Minnesota and the Civil War. Funding provided ongoing support and coordination. Production of 10 short films focused on this era yielded two documentaries repeatedly aired by Twin Cities Public Television. Topics included Dred Scott and Harriet Scott, Governor Ramsey and Minnesota's entry into the war, the Battles of Antietam, Nashville and Gettysburg, women warriors, perils and prison camps and the election of 1864, among others. Teachers were made aware of these resources via statewide workshops.
