------------------------------------------------- To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------- In a small, but positive way, "The St. Paul Book Club" addressed this issue with its 2004 selection, "Night Flying Woman" by Ignatia Broker. The book was selected by Mayor Randy Kelly and St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey as an effort to promote the St. Paul Reads program. As background information, previous books selected were "Profiles in Courage" by John F. Kennedy, and "The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963" by Paul Clifford Curtis.
The book was originally published in 1983 by the Minnesota Historical Society and in recent years has been reissued. According to the book jacket of the new edition, "With the art of a practiced storyteller, Ignatia Broker recounts the life of her great-great-grandmother, Night Flying Woman, who was born in the mid-nineteenth century and lived during a chaotic time of enormous change, uprooting, and loss for Minnesota's Ojibway. But this story also tells of her people's great strength and continuity." I was a member of the committee that reviewed many candidates for the 2004 book and recommended three books to Mayor Kelly and Superintendent Harvey. The book was selected in part because of a desire to have a tie in to the Mississippi River and the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854. It was also selected because it offered an alternative interpretation of the period in which the Grand Excursion occurred. While the book focuses on Ojibway rather than Dakota issues, in the end the themes of displacement, loss and, ultimately, the resilience of a culture are very similar. >From February - May, students and community members were encouraged to read the book. > There were numerous organized discussions about the book in bookstores and >libraries. A culminating event was held at the Minnesota History Center on June 23. >The evening was hosted by Deborah Locke, editorial writer for the St. Paul Pioneer >Press, who is Ojibway herself. The event featured American Indian singers and >dancers, comments about the book from Mayor Kelly and Dr. Harvey, and the >announcement of winners of the student and family essay and art contest. Both of >these contests gave students the opportunity to express their appreciation for the >book. While this program has reached its conclusion, the book lives on. I encourage anyone interested in widening their view of Minnesota (and American) history to read Night Flying Woman. However, to call this book a story about Indian experience and culture is to limit its power. It is a story for all people. Roger Barr Merriam Park -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Pamela Frantum Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 1:37 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [StPaul] Grand Excursion (was Rules Enforcement) ------------------------------------------------- To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------- I had planned my own personal boycott of the Grand Excursion because nowhere was I finding any acknowledgement of the unlawful displacement of the Dakota people. Four years ago when I first heard about the Grand Excursion I was very excited ... through further research I learned that Charles Fillmore (Millard's brother) is buried at Oakland. He died of dysentery in July 1854. Then this summer I've been reading Theodore Blegen's "Minnesota - a History of the State" and learned how poorly the Dakota people were treated ... to the point of withholding food until treaties were signed. Yesterday I sent a letter to the Pioneer Press ... I'll see if it's published. I have trouble celebrating an historic event if the whole story isn't included, especially when it deals with the removal of a people and their culture. Nick Coleman had a wonderful article on Sunday describing the reconciliation ceremony that occurred in Winona on Saturday. I have been looking at the events scheduled for St. Paul, but wasn't able to find any similar event. Does anyone know if something comparable is planned in St. Paul. I noticed the websites seemed pretty quiet about this issue, including Riverfront Corporation. With the past discussions about history standards ... it would be good to see the Grand Excursion portrayed without misrepresentations. Thanks. Pam Frantum Merriam Park >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [StPaul] Rules Enforcement >Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 09:03:45 EDT > >UPDATE ON GONE IN 60 SECONDS... >Starting Gate: Wednesday, 10:00am, 75 volunteers needed in one week >Update: Friday, 8:00am, 68 volunteers needed, 6 days remaining (targeting >end of day Wednesday) > >Response Needed: If you're in town next weekend, please call! If you have >personal networks outside of the issue forum, PLEASE FORWARD! (Thank you >community council organizers who've already passed this on!) > >Details: Volunteers Needed at Grand Excursion Celebration July 3-5, 2004 > >What: Volunteers are needed to staff parking lots/shuttle stops by >providing >information and assistance to Grand Excursion attendees. > >When: July 3-5, 4-5 hour shifts, 2-7 people per site > >Where: Locations in St. Paul > >All volunteers receive: Grand Excursion T-shirt, bottle of water, and >Taste >of Minnesota food tickets. Hop the shuttle when your shift is over and >ride >the shuttle to Harriet Island and the Taste of Minnesota. Fireworks every >night! This is a great way to meet people and >experience the 4th of July weekend! > >Event Information is posted at: >http://www.riverfrontcorporation.com/twincities.asp > >Contact Jennifer Armstrong at 651-774-2957 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >This is a great one time volunteer opportunity! >_____________________________________________ >NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: >http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > >Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
