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Archive for October, 2009

Shinob Jep

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Jim NorthrupShinob Jep, Jim Northrup’s bitingly funny play parodying the game of Jeopardy from an Anishinabe point of view, was broadcast as a radio play last Sunday on KFAI’s First Nations Radio program. Rhiana Yazzie first interviews Northrup, Ojibwe elder, humorist, and author of several books and the syndicated column The Fond du Lac Follies. Northrup talks about his current writing projects and reads several poems. He also discusses losing and regaining the Ojibwe language, which he uses to introduce himself. The last third of the show features the performance, recorded at the Walker Community Church in Minneapolis by actors Cochise Anderson, Rafael, Joy Rivera, Gary Ten Bear, and George Keller.

Jim Northrup is the author of The Rez Road Follies and Walking the Rez Road.

Los Dias de los Muertos

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

MHS Los Dias de los Muertos  2According to the book Latino Minnesota by Leigh Roethke, Los Dias de los Muertos are days to honor and remember departed loved ones. “It is believed that the souls of the dead return to Earth for one day of the year–the spirits of the los angerlitos (little children) on All Saints’ Day (November 1) and the spirits of adults on All Souls’ Day (November 2). The celebration of Los Dias de los Muertos is neither somber nor macabre. It is a joyful time of reunion, feasting, and remembrance for families. Death is accepted as a part of the cycle of life, and maintaining a ritual of remembering assures the living that they too will not be forgotten in their passing.”

Stop by the Minnesota History Center now through November 3 to view an exhibit in honor of Los Dias de los Muertos.

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Northland Bioneers

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Northland Bioneers ConferenceThe Northland Bioneers Conference will take place this weekend at the University of Minnesota. Produced by Northland Sustainable Solutions, the meeting focuses on environmental and social sustainability. For more information and a list of the speakers, see the TC Planet article about the event.

If you are inspired to cultivate your own plentiful garden next year, now is a great time to curl up with Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden for tips on sustainable agricultural practices–and a chance to meet Buffalo Bird Woman, a master gardener of the 19th century. “I sometimes say to my son Goodbird: ‘You young folks, when you want green corn, open the husk to see if the grain is ripe enough, and thus expose it; but I just go out into the field and pluck the ear. . . . I do not think you are very good gardeners in these days!’”

Kevin Kling’s Northern Lights, Southern Cross Opening This Week

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

phph2YMx4Northern Lights/Southern Cross: Tales from the Other Side of the Worldopens this weekend at the Guthrie Theater’s Dowling Studio. MinnPost describes the piece as a “cosmic collaboration between artists from the United States and Australia.” Both the play and Kevin’s book The Dog Says How relate his experiences surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident. The Pioneer Press also reviewed the show.

Check out the 3-Minute Egg interview with Kevin about the show and video of Kevin at Interact Center in Minneapolis. Cathy Wurzer also talked with Kevin about the show on MPR.

Kevin’s newest collection of stories, Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn, is in stores now. He’ll share stories from the book at the Minneapolis Central Library’s Talk of the Stacks on November 12 and at Common Good Books on November 17.

Manoominike Giizis: Wild Rice Making Moon

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Wild Rice and the Ojibway PeopleTC Planet features an article by Winona LaDuke for The Circle about the wild rice harvest and celebration on the White Earth reservation. She writes, “this ‘food which grows on the water’–a central part of the Ojibway migration story–remains central to the land, culture, and a way of life in Anishinaabe Akiing–this north country.”

To learn more about ricing, check out Thomas Vennum’s Wild Rice and the Ojibway People.

Michael Connelly at Once Upon a Crime

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

http://www.onceuponacrimebooks.com/This Sunday, 10/25, noted mystery author Michael Connelly will be at Once Upon a Crime, THE mystery bookstore of the Twin Cities, at 2pm. He will be reading from his new book, Nine Dragons.

Connelly will also be appearing, along with many other illustrious authors (Jeffrey Toobin, Julia Glass, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, and Ronald Cotton), at the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library’s Opus and Olives, a lush event including dinner and drinks with tickets starting at $125. Opus and Olives is also on Sunday, 10/25, beginning at 5pm.

Share Your Photos of Highway 61

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Highway 61 sign in Czech RepublicCathy Wurzer’s Tales of the Road blog, Notes from the Road, features a picture of a sign for Highway 61 in the Czech Republic. Cathy invites readers and fans to share photos related to Highway 61 on the Tales of the Road Facebook page or Flickr. So if you are one of the many families traveling the famous highway on a mini-vacation this weekend for the fall break, stop and take some pics along the road to share!

The Period Rooms at the MIA - Haunted?

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

The Nearly DepartedAs Halloween approaches, here is another excerpt from Michael Norman’s new book, The Nearly Departed: Minnesota Ghost Stories and Legends, this time about possible hauntings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Perhaps the next time you visit the MIA, you will see more than fine art!

An Ode to the Moose

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Moose Madness, all rights reserved by www.grandmarias.comIt’s Moose Madness this weekend in Grand Marais, MN (Oct 16-18), and there are tons of fun moose-related events going on all three days.

For the bookish, we recommend the poetry contest. Pick up an entry form in person at Moose Central (a.k.a. Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail Visitor Information Center at  13 North Broadway) and compose your very own moose haiku or limerick.

If you feel a need to get some constructive criticism on your work, you can read it at the Mocha Moose Cafe and Poetry Salon (right next door to the visitor center) at 9 PM on Saturday. All entries are due by noon on Sunday at Moose Central.

If you are unable to travel to Grand Marais this weekend, we would be happy to post (after reviewing–we are family friendly) your moose haikus in the comments.

Cold Weather Makes Some People Happy

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Hard-Water World: Ice Fishing and Why We Do It.