In recognition of this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the MPR Archive Portal presents a curated selection of varied stories, documentaries, arts, interviews, and reports on Native American people, culture, and history.
February 7, 1973 - MPR’s Marvin Granger interviews Native American advocate Ada Deer about Native American struggles, rights, and the confrontational actions taken to draw attention to broken treaties.
May 6, 1973 - Part one of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “Anishinaabe Means Original People,” and focuses on conversations with Indian people about their feelings about the place where they live.
December 16, 1973 - Ron Libertus speaks about American Indian art, Native American culture, and family et al.
February 27, 1974 - Native American activist Russell Means, speaks about the desires and needs of Native Americans at rally on the University of Minnesota campus.
August 1, 1974 - Kevin McKiernan report on the Sun Dance Ritual, a Lakota (Sioux) religious ceremony. McKiernan details the experience of traveling to and witnessing the event, held at Crow Dog's Paradise. This is the first of two reports completed.
August 30, 1974 - Agnes Lamont, mother of Buddy Lamont, who was killed at Wounded Knee in 1973, is interviewed by Kevin McKiernan. Lamont discusses Oglala Sioux on Pine Ridge Reservation.
September 21, 1974 - Kevin McKiernan presents highlights of his long, fastidious, coverage of the Wounded Knee controversy.
October 21, 1975 - Vine Deloria, an expert in Indian treaties and author of "Custer Died For Your Sins" and "God is Red,” speaking at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth on Indian rights and public policy.
November 5, 1976 - On the anniversary of the Sioux Uprising of 1862, this program presents the historical events that culminated in the hangings of 38 Indians after the uprising. Program includes members of All Things Considered reading from the writings done at the time of uprising.
April 1, 1977 - As part of KCCM's Our Home Town series, this program is on Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, located in north central North Dakota, and home to Chippewa Indians. Through various interviews and music segments, program highlights Michif culture, religion, powwow dance, identity problems, the BIA, poverty, and alcoholism.