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.
April 26, 1993 - MPR’s Leif Enger reports from Mille Lacs Lake on Anishinaabe Liberation Front preparing to spear in violation of state law. Report includes numerous interviews, including Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup, who participates in traditional spearing.
July 9, 1993 - MPR’s Liz Hannon interviews author Jim Northrup about his book, "Walking the Rez Road." Northup also speaks about oral tradition and the Vietnam War.
August 28, 1993 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger profiles new Nay Ah Shing School on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. Thanks in part to casino era revenue funding, the new school will provide K-12 classes, as well as enhanced cultural curriculum and Native American centric elements.
October 12, 1993 - MPR’s Euen Kerr talks with Native American poet Jamison Mahto about poetry and cultural misconceptions. Mahto reads "The Blue Apache" from his book “Blues For Franklin Avenue: A Collection of Poetry.”
April 12, 1994 - Native American environmentalist and writer Winona LaDuke speaks at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis on the difference between indigenous and industrial ways of thinking. She also discusses feminism, environmental racism and broken treaties.
July 7, 1994 - On this Mainstreet Radio feature, MPR’s Leif Enger profiles Native American rock artist Jake Reum. The Garrison musician talks about his musical journey that led to album release “Make Love Real.”
September 8, 1994 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on restoring the Anishinabe land of White Earth. Both tribal government and a land recovery project are working to regain control of reservation lands.
November 22, 1994 - MPR's Stephen Smith prepared this documentary, "Song Catcher, Frances Densmore of Red Wing" about Frances Densmore, a Minnesota music teacher who set out to capture disappearing Indian songs. She is said to be a pioneering anthropologist in preserving American Indian music.
December 28, 1994 - MPR’s Joelle Audette profiles Native American enivironmentalist activist Winona LaDuke, who is involved in a land recovery project for the White Earth Indian Reservation. Report includes interview with LaDuke on her various activities.
February 24, 1995 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Chickasaw novelist and poet Linda Hogan reads about the langauge of corn and the land.