Through March 17
Frank Big Bear Skull Paintings: an Homage to Fritz Scholder
Frank Big Bear’s new work. Skull Paintings: an Homage to Fritz Scholder presents new paintings, drawings, and collages that reveal Frank Big Bear’s current inspirations and obsessions. Consisting of bold portraits of skeletal warriors, among other images, his current series of paintings responds to work by the American artist Fritz Scholder. Gallery Hours: Wed. thru Sat., Noon to 5 pm. Bockley Gallery, 2123 W. 21st St., Minneapolis.
Through June 30
Mni Sota: Reflections of
Time and Place
"Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place" features works by 17 Native American artists from the Minnesota region. All exhibits are free and open to the public. Sites and dates are:
o Thru March 15: Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.
o April 1-May 18: Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Onamia, MN.
o May 28-June 30: Tweed Museum, Duluth, MN.
Through 2012
Why Treaties Matter:
Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations
The Why Treaties Matter project helps establish American Indian sovereignty as an ongoing continental reality and provides a vehicle for Minnesotans to learn new and innovative ways to create community. Video presentation and 20 banners featuring text and images, how treaties affected the lands and lifeways of the indigenous peoples of this place, and why these binding agreements between nations still matter today. For more dates, see: www.minnesotahumanities.org/
treaties.
o March 1-31: Native American Community Development Institute, Minneapolis.
o March 23-April 22: School District 196 Native American Parent Advisory Committee, Rosemount.
o May 1-30: Fort Snelling, St Paul.
o May 28-June 25: Fond du Lac Cultural Center/Museum, Cloquet
o June 8-July 7: Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing
o July 1-31: MN Valley History Center & Dakota Wicohan, Morton
o July 16-Aug 15: Mayo Clinic, Rochester
o Aug. 23-Sept 22: Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul
o Oct. 1-31: Winona County Historical Society, Winona
o Nov. 8-Dec. 15: Carlton County
March 2-11
Native Pride Dancers
World Champion Fancy Dancer Larry Yazzie and the Native Pride Dancers will perform flamboyant movements passed down by their ancestors and songs from the Northern Plains. Featuring freestyle movement, dance regalia, and traditional songs from the Northern Plains. Enhanced by indigenous vocal and flute music, other dances like the Buffalo, Eagle, Hoop, and Round Dances celebrate various animals, crops, the sun, and the wind. Tickets: $14 for adults; $11 for youth and seniors. Groups of 20 or more – $7.00. Call 651-225-9265 or email: Christine@steppingstonetheatre.org for info or to book a group.
March 3
Chris Leith Sr Memorial
The family of Chris Leith Sr, Tasunka Wakinyan Ohitika, would like to extend an invitation to come and join in his memory. Keeping Of The Soul Ceremony, Wiping Of Tears Ceremony, and Teachings Of The Big Drum Ceremony. Starts at 1 pm. Dinner at 6 pm. Wopida at 7 pm. Prairie Island Indian Community, Community Center, 1158 Island Blvd. Welch MN. 1-800-552-5273. For more information contact Lylis Wells at 651-764-9627 or email:?side_step05@yahoo.com.
March 5 – April 30
Older Than American Exhibit
Taking its title from Native writer, director and producer Georgina Lightning’s 2008 contemporary drama shot in Cloquet, Minnesota, Older Than America highlights the work of two emerging Native visual artists: Carolyn Lee Anderson and Bobby Wilson. On view through April, the exhibit will also feature a community screening of Lighning’s haunting thriller. On view through April at The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Avenue, Minneapolis. 612-879-5335 or www.lssmn.org/cfcl. Free and open to the public.
March 6
The Great Hurt: Historical Accounts of American Indian Boarding Schools
This Reader’s Theater presentation explores the boarding-school era by giving voice to the experiences of people who were there. Between the Civil War and the Great Depression, the U.S. forcibly removed generations of American Indian children from their homes and sent them to boarding schools to assimilate them. Presented by artist/historian Carl Gawboy, and Cynthia Donner and Michelle Robertson. A group discussion will follow. 7 p.m. Free. Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul. 651-259-3000.
March 10
17th annual student-led Building Bridges Conference
"Unresolved Conflict: Remember Our Forgotten History," will place a spotlight on the impact of colonization on Native American history and culture. Native American activist Charlotte Black Elk and national recording artist, actor, and activist John Trudell will give talks. Workshop sessions will allow attendees to interact with regional experts on several other issues of importance to Native Americans. Registration stars at 9 am. Conference goes till 6 pm. The conference is open to the public, but tickets are required and may be purchased in advance at: gustavustickets.com. Tickets are $10 per person, but are complimentary for college students, high school students, and Gustavus faculty, and staff with valid I.D. For more information, visit the conference website at: gustavus.edu/diversity/buildingbridges/ or call 507-933-7449.
March 13-14
Homeschool Days: American Indians in Minnesota: Past, Present and Future
Trace the history and heritage of American Indians in Minnesota with a special focus on their many cultural contributions. Students will experience interactive lessons about the Dakota and Ojibwe people and their role in the state’s first big business, the fur trade, and meet a History Player portraying John Beargrease, an Ojibwe mail carrier on Minnesota’s North Shore. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee: $7/$6. Free for children ages 3 and under. Reservations required, call 651-259-3400. Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul.
March 15 (deadline)
Native CHAT Film Festival
Call for Submission
Native CHAT Film Festival is a one-day event where films created by Native Youth of Minnesota will be screened. First time filmmakers welcome! Youth 7th-12th grade are eligible. There is no entry fee. The submitted films will be an opportunity for Native youth to share their perspective on important issues: HIV/AIDS, culture & health, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. To be eligible films must have been created after March 15, 2011. Films must be between 2 and 13 minutes in length. CASH PRIZES!!! For more information please visit the website:?www.nativechatfilm.blogspot.com. Submit entries on-line at www.withoutabox.com. For questions call Native CHAT at 612-722-5670.
March 16-18
Where Condor Meets Eagle
Where Condor Meets Eagle: Indigenous Bolivian and Native American Film Fest. A four-day cultural exchange and three-night film festival celebrating Indigenous film, inter-cultural exchange, and visual storytelling. Includes documentaries, docudramas, and narrative fiction films. The event also will include short films produced in the Summer 2011 by two award winning local youth-producer groups from Minnesota: MIGIZI Youth Producers and Project Reserve Youth Producers. Parkway Cinema, 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN. For more info, call 612-822-3030 or see:?www.augsburg.edu/filmseries.
March 17
Leech Lake Urban Community Candidates Forum
The Leech Lake Urban Community will be holding a forum of the candidates for District III Representatives and Chairperson. This event will be held at East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center, 2307 17th Avenue South, Mpls., MN. From 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Open to enrolled members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe who reside in the 7 county metro area. IDs will be checked at the door. This event is pot luck and is not affiliated with any candidate or incumbent representative or chairperson. For information call Howard White at 612-759-9452.
March 22-23
Live It! Training
An American Indian Culturally Specific Sexuality Education Curriculum "Live It" is a teen pregnancy prevention program used and facilitated by community schools and/or organizations who provide services to American Indian youth and their families. This training is for those interested in becoming a Live It! Facilitator for their school or organization. 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. This 2-day training is FREE. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited. Must RSVP by March 16. For more information contact Adrienne Morris at 612-722-8722, ext. 373. Division of Indian Work, 1001 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN.
March 23
Heid E. Erdrich Book Launch
Celebrate Heid E. Erdrich’s new book, "Cell Traffic: New and Selected Poems." Book signing, strolling readings and performances. FREE art-poem with purchase of Cell Traffic at Birchbark Books in March. Will be held in conjunction with Dyani White Hawk’s opening reception for her new exhibit. From 7-9 pm at Birchbark Books, 2115 West 21st Street, Minneapolis.
March 23 – April 21
Dyani White Hawk
Opening Reception on March 23 from 6 to 9 pm. Exhibition runs March 24 through April 21. Dyani White Hawk’s solo debut. White Hawk’s exactingly executed paintings often combine the Lakota art of quillwork with strong lines that echo blanket and moccasin patterns. Often the scale of her work, large canvases as well as very small, or "extreme close-up" images, creates an interesting confusion between landscape and object or between pattern and figure. White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) was born in Madison, Wisconsin and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received a MFA in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, Noon to 5 pm. Bockley Gallery, 2123 W 21st Street, Minneapolis. For more info, call 612-377-4669 or see: www.bockleygallery.com.
March 23-25
Raven Stole The Sun
New Native Theatre presents Red Sky Performance production of Raven Stole The?Sun. This compelling dance theatre piece is for all people of all ages. Raven Stole the Sun is a play by Drew Hayden Taylor (Curve Lake Ojibway). Based on a traditional Tlingit story as recounted by Sh?a Tl?a Maria Williams. All tickets are $7. For tickets, see: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/211820. For info on the play, see: http://newnativetheatre.org.
o March 23: School performance at 12:00 pm, Family performance at 7:00 pm.
o March 24: Family performance at 2:00 pm. Meet the artists of Raven Stole The Sun for a family workshop at 4:00 pm. Family performance at 7:00 pm.
o March 25: Family performance at 2:00 pm.
March 26
Volunteers of America Native foster care meeting
There is a shortage of Native foster homes available to accept children in need of this culturally specific placement. Volunteers of America is currently recruiting for all types of foster homes, but especially those who meet ICWA requirements. VOA-MN is looking for skilled parents to provide care for troubled youth in any one of three foster care programs. Foster parents provided with training, 24-hour support, and a monthly stipend. Info meeting from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Volunteers of America Corporate Office, 7625 Metro Blvd., Edina, MN. For more info, contact Heather Thornton at 952-945-4064 or email: hthornton@voamn.org, or see: www.voamn.org.
March 31
Augsburg College 4th Traditional Powwow
Grand Entries at 1:00 and 6:00 pm. Registration for Drum Groups and Dancers begins at 11 am. Concession stands available provided by Augsburg Indigenous Student Association (AISA) Master of Ceremonies: Danny Seaboy. Arena Director: Ricky White. Host Drum: Midnite Express. Head Male and Female Dancer: Bradley Blackhawk & Yvonne Barrett. Dancer Honorarium: registered dancers only. Must be in regalia. Drum Honorarium – First 10 registered drum groups, 5 singer minimum, no drum hopping. Special event for Augsburg College 2011-12 American Indian Graduates at 3:00 pm. Native craft vendors. For more information, call Jennifer Simon at 612-330-1144 or email: simonj@augsburg.edu or see: www.augsburg.edu/aissp. Augsburg College, Si Melby Gymnasium, 715 23rd Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN.
April 1 (deadline)
Visions and Viewpoints, Artists of the Dakota
and Ojibwe People
Call for artists for Visions and Viewpoints, Artists of the Dakota and Ojibwe People Gallery show: May 5 – June 24. Open to all professional and emerging artists who are 18 years of age or older and are members of either the Dakota or Ojibwe tribes. Ten artists from a variety of art media will be selected. Each artist will receive a $500 stipend plus up to $200 mileage for participating. Selected artwork should include/invoke some aspect of cultural relevance. Submission deadline April 1. PDF images may be emailed to: info@rwarts.org. Artists are asked to attend the reception. For info, see the website: www.redwingartsassociation.org.
April 4
Bunky Echo-Hawk
A live art performance by nationally recognized Native American artist Bunky Echo-Hawk. Free! From 6 pm to 9 pm at the CSU Ballroom, MSU-Mankato, Mankato, MN.
April 13
American Indian Family Center Powwow/Fair
Feast and fair at 5 pm, Grand Entry at 6 pm. For further info, please call 651-793-3803. Sponsored by MOFAS. Harding High School, 1540 E. 6th St., St. Paul.
April 28
Pow-wow 4 Hope
New event will honor cancer survivors, raise awareness of cancer risks, and increase resources to ease the burdens of cancer. The Powwow is a celebratory way to help fight one of the most debilitating diseases Minnesota American Indian families encounter. For Powwow participants, there will be a feast but there will not be cash supports for the day. Individuals and groups are being recruited to form teams to fundraise before and during the event. If you would like more information about forming a team contact Julia 612-584-0428 or email powwow@AICAF.org. All teams will have the opportunity to have a booth at the event to raise money by selling food, crafts, and/or activities. For info see: www.AICAF.org. Held at the Midtown YWCA in Mpls from 10 am-10 pm. Hosted by the American Indian Cancer Foundation.
