A compelling, concise narrative that traces the history of the Ojibwe people in Minnesota, exploring cultural practices, challenges presented by more recent settlers, and modern-day discussions of sovereignty and identity.
With insight and candor, noted Ojibwe scholar Anton Treuer traces thousands of years of the complicated history of the Ojibwe people—their economy, culture, and clan system and how these have changed throughout time, perhaps most dramatically with the arrival of Europeans into Minnesota territory. Ojibwe in Minnesota covers the fur trade, the Iroquois Wars, and Ojibwe-Dakota relations; the treaty process and creation of reservations; and the systematic push for assimilation as seen in missionary activity, government policy, and boarding schools. Treuer does not shy away from today’s controversial topics, covering them frankly and with sensitivity—issues of sovereignty as they influence the running of casinos and land management; the need for change in modern tribal government; poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse; and constitutional and educational reform. He also tackles the complicated issue of identity and details recent efforts and successes in cultural preservation and language revitalization. A personal account from the state's first female Indian lawyer, Margaret Treuer, tells her firsthand experience of much change in the community and looks ahead with renewed cultural strength and hope for the first people of Minnesota.
ISBN-13: 9780873517683
Media Type: Paperback(1)
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publication Date: 03-01-2010
Pages: 112
Product Dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Series: People Of Minnesota Series
Table of Contents
Ojibwe in Minnesota 1
Ojibwe Origins and Migration to Minnesota 5
The Ojibwe Fur-trade Era, 1640-1820 11
Ojibwe-Dakota Relations 17
Treaties and Reservations 23
The Indian New Deal 40
What Sovereignty Means 43
Indian Gaming 54
Community, Activism, and the Ojibwe in Minnesota 60
Fighting Dysfunction 67
Revitalizing Language and Culture 74
Personal Account: Reflections Margaret Treuer 82
Suggestions for Further Reading 85
Notes 87
Index 97
Picture Credits 102
Acknowledgments 102
