Committee Addressing Racial Equity (CARE)

Back in November, you read about a small group of our Community Leadership’s work group, CARE, presenting at the 2nd Annual North Eastern Minnesota Equity Summit in Virginia. The group provided a presentation and panel discussion describing their history, work, and evolution right here in Cook County. What have they been up to since then?

Well, to continue their year-long focus on learning, a group of community reads was planned. Both Drury Lane and the Grand Marais Library have provided books– hard cover, paperback, and audio books-for community members to read. Following the reading of each book, there have been book talks, discussions, and a variety of other activities.

The first community read was Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. This award winning novel captivated readers; it is a novel that’s hard to put down! Angeline Boulley participated virtually with a large group “zooming” in through Cook County Higher Ed. In addition to an hour with the author, there was another interesting event! Margaret Noodin, founder of Ojibwe.net, came virtually to talk about the Ojibwe language in the book; her video “Family Language Connections in the FireKeeper’s Daughter” can still be found on the CCHE website.

Anton Treuer had come to Cook County before, working with ISD 166 staff several years ago, serving in his role as professor at Bemidji State University. It was wonderful having him return in a different capacity; he was here after members of our community read his book, The Cultural Toolbox. Anton provided our county with three events: one at Higher Ed, another at North House Folk School, and a third in Grand Portage. All events were different in nature, giving many the opportunity to see him multiple times–a thrill, because he is such a great presenter. He is a fascinating presenter, given his skills and unique background. His father was a Jew who survived the Holocaust, while his mother was a White Earth member, tribal attorney, and the first Indian attorney in Minnesota!

Currently, the read is The Vanishing Half. This novel, written by Brit Bennett, is about identical twins. Although identical and inseparable in their youth, they live as adults in two quite different worlds: one black and one white. This is one of the New York Times bestsellers!

The next read for the spring will be The Seed Keeper. Diane Wilson’s novel will be read in March and April. As most of the previous books focused on Ojibwe culture, this novel looks at the Dakota. Winona LaDuke says of the book, “They thought they buried us. They forgot that we were seeds. That we are, and … the narrative of intergenerational loss and rebirth” (will) fill one’s heart with gratitude.”

Pick up any or all of these great books at Drury Lane, the Grand Marais Public Library, and look for related activities on the Cook County Higher Ed website. Read, learn, and enjoy!

In addition to focusing on these novels for adults, kids have been doing some cultural learning around activities related to the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. John Beargrease was the son of an Anishinaabe chief. He was the winter mail carrier from Two Harbors up the shore, using (of course) a dog sled to deliver the mail.

Students here in Cook County, as well as all over the U.S. and Canada, had activities over the last month which their teachers developed around the theme of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. In the area of Language Arts, youth wrote letters to relatives and friends in a commemorative envelope and addressed it. Those were signed by a musher and stamped “carried by a sled dog.” After the race, those letters went in the regular mail. Many YouTube videos, audio summaries, and articles published by the MN Historical Society were read in Language Arts classes, as well.

There were pre-school and kindergarten classes who made dog sleds, some out of popsicles sticks and others from shoe boxes. In math, kids experienced story problems dealing with mileage and conversion to kilometers. Geography students learned about northeast Minnesota terrain, waterbodies, and followed the race using maps and compasses. One class even had a veterinarian speak on the vet checks performed on the dogs, how the dogs are cared for…

Thanks to our local Committee Addressing Racial Equity for bringing books, activities, and learning to those of all ages!