By Sofia Wolf
Did you know that November is Native American Heritage Month? This month provides an opportunity to celebrate Native American culture and traditions. We can also use it to raise awareness about the unique challenges facing Native American communities, both in the past and present. There are many resources offered by the Music & Media Collections to learn more and appreciate the rich Native American history in the state of Minnesota.
Ojibwe Music from Minnesota: A Century of Song for Voice and Drum
Call Number: M 1669 .O45 1997
Hear traditional Ojibwe music, sung in both English and Ojibwa, with early recordings as dating from 1899-1910, as well as more recent field recordings.
Manoomin: A Minnesota Way of Life
Call Number: E99.C6 M3 2005
This documentary is a part of the campaign to prohibit the introduction of genetically-engineered wild rice in the State of Minnesota. A group of Ojibwe people voice their opinions, providing contrast between scientific progress and the rights of indigenous people to protect their food source, biodiversity, and way of life.
The Woodlands: The Story of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe
Call Number: E99.C6 W6 2000
This film explores the 400-year history and culture of Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Native Americans through narration, historical footage, music, and personal interviews with tribal elders.