MPR Archive presents a collection of varied Native topics in and around Minnesota. Stories include interviews, commentary, events, speeches, documentaries, and reports.
November 17, 1994 - A Midday pledge drive hour, with a re-broadcast of the 1991 documentary by Steven Smith and Chris Julin about Indian boarding schools in the 19th century. “Learning the White People Way: A Documentary Essay on the History of Federal Indian Boarding Schools” is narrated and co-written by Ted Mahto, a Native American from the Red Lake band of Chippewa in northern Minnesota. Mahto reflects on his experience at boarding schools in Pipestone, Minnesota and Flandreau, South Dakota.
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 13, 1995 - On this pledge drive Midday program, a rebroadcast of MPR documentary "Song Catcher: Frances Densmore of Red Wing." Frances Densmore was a Red Wing woman who recorded the songs of Native Americans around the turn of the century.
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.
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.
August 30, 1995 - Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews Mark Jarboe, attorney and head of Dorsey & Whitney’s Indian Law department, about American Indian law sovereignty.
September 18, 1995 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on Project Grow, a program focused on developing food planting and produce services as a way to counter the growing issue of diabetes in Native American communities. It’s a callback to traditional ways regarding food and preparation.
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.