White Earth literacy coordinator to speak on treaties at CCHS

The Carlton County Historical Society will host Mary Favorite, multicultural literacy coordinator at the White Earth Head Start Program, on Saturday, Nov.17, for a 1 p.m. presentation about the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit, “Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations.”

Born on the White Earth Reservation to Reuben and Anna Rock, Favorite explained, “I am a product of being a preacher’s kid as well as a product of the boarding schools from both my parents.”

The Ojibwe language was her first language. She learned to speak English in school. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in social work.

Favorite’s late husband, Andrew (Andy) Paul Favorite, helped create the exhibit “Why Treaties Matter,” which has been on a statewide tour to reservations and other venues since August 2011. The exhibit explores the Native nations in Minnesota and their history of treaty making with the United States. The exhibit includes 20 free standing banners with text, historical and contemporary photographs and maps, and a 10-minute video titled, “A Day in the Life of the Minnesota Tribal Nations.” The CCHS museum has added regional Ojibwe artifacts to complement this exhibit, which will be on view through Dec. 15.

“Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations” is a collaboration of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center, and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. The project is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with a vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008, and the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation.

Regular admission to the museum is $1 with children under 12 and CCHS members admitted at no charge. The CCHS museum is handicapped accessible. For questions, call the CCHS at 218-879-1938.

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