Native American Minnesota

On Tuesday morning, I had a meeting at the Ft. Snelling State Park visitors center with Judy Thomson, DNR regional naturalist, and Linda Radimecky, DNR Interpretive Naturalist. Judy was the DNR person on the team of people who helped create the Concentration Camp display at the park, and Linda conducts tours at the park that include the history of the Camp.

I wanted to better understand the background on the display (it was constructed by Split Rock Studios “museum outfitters” in Roseville) and further explore the possibility of creating both a web version and a traveling version of the exhibit.

We discussed whether ‘leveraging’ the exhibit in this way would stimulate interest in more people (including teachers and their students) visiting the park and the exhibit, as there’s nothing quite as powerful as a physically visiting a historical site to generate learning and a lasting impression.

I stopped by the headquarters of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community in Mendota yesterday, as I was in the area and had some extra time before my next meeting.

 
I was greeted with a warm hug by Pidamaya Sharon Lennartson (right photo, click to enlarge) who’s listed on their Contact Us page as the administrative assistant for the Council. We’d exchanged email a few times last month after she’d blogged one of my posts and I attached a comment.

I’d initially heard about Sharon from my sister who has visited their headquarters many times in the past. Like us Wigleys, Sharon’s ancestors include Hypolite Dupuis and Angelique Renville.

We didn’t have a lot of time to talk as it was late in the day and she was swamped with phone calls.  I’m hoping to set up another time to visit with her and possibly the Council.