In recognition of 2024 Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the MPR Archive Portal presents a curated sampling of varied stories, documentaries, arts, interviews, and reports on Native people, their culture, and history.
Please note: Most content related to this topic that is contemporary or created after 2005 can be found on our main content pages of MPR News, YourClassical MPR, The Current, APM Reports, and Marketplace.
June 26, 1995 - On this Voices of Minnesota segment, MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup about his book “Walking The Rez Road.” Northrup disusses the Vietnam War, writing, and casino gaming impact on reservations.
June 26, 1995 - On this Voices of Minnesota segment, MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Ojibwe writer Jim Northrup about his book “Walking The Rez Road.” Northrup discusses boarding school, teaching writing, his family tree, and traditional ways.
October 27, 1995 - MPR’s Joaqlin Estus profiles Native American composer Brent Michael Davids. Estus interviews Davids about his instrumentations and composition “Native American Suite.” Jerry Rubino, assistant-conductor of the Dale Warland Singers, is also interviewed.
November 20, 1995 - MPR’s Marianne Combs interviews Native American author Jim Northrup about writing, his film projects, and family.
March 22, 1996 - There are many creation stories explaining how the Earth took its form and how civilizations came to be, including the massive waters of Lake Superior. People gathered at the Lake Superior Center in Duluth to hear the stories and myths of the Ojibwe culture…here's a sampling of what they heard.
May 17, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger takes a walking audio tour of The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post. Enger talks with Joyce Wedll, the museum manager about the purposes of museum for both tribal members and tourists.
November 19, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on new children’s comic book which highlights the history of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe Band. The book, "A Hero's Voice," looks at broken treaties, important figures in Ojibwe history, and the spiritual tie between the tribe and the lake.
December 26, 1996 - MPR’s Mary Losure created this report for National Public Radio detailing the efforts to save Native American language by teaching it to next generation. Losure interviews both language teachers and students at Nay Ah Shing school in Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
May 20, 1997 - Public and private landholders are challenging Chippewa Indian's plans to take fish and other game in eastern Minnesota, under terms of an 1837 treaty. But miles north of the region under contention, Chippewa Indians have been harvesting fish and wild rice and hunting moose and deer on public lands with little fanfare, and no public protests.
March 2, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger profiles the Red Lake Warriors, who after a tragedy, are regrouping and preparing for another run at the state title.