Veterans' Voices: Native Warriors - Competitive Award
Veterans' Voices: Native Warriors will give Native American students in Minnesota the opportunity to hear memories and stories directly from Native American veterans from within their communities. Funds will also be used to create radio segments featuring the Native American veterans sharing their personal experiences in their own words. These segments will air statewide and be archived online giving all Minnesotans access now and in the future.
$300,000 the first year is for a competitive grants program to provide grants to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Minnesota.The Minnesota Humanities Center shall operate a competitive grants program to provide grants for programs, including but not limited to: music, film, television, radio, recreation, or the design and use of public spaces that preserves and honors the cultural heritage of Minnesota. Grants made under this paragraph must not be used for travel costs inside or outside of the state.
Twenty stories of Native American Veterans, that would otherwise remain absent, will be shared, amplified, and archived for future generations.By hearing the stories, at least 220,000 Minnesotans of all ages will gain a better understanding of the important role Native Americans have served in protecting our country, the unusually high percentage of Native Americans who have and are in the armed forces, and the cultural reasons behind this.More teachers will utilize this material and other tangible examples from people within their communities who are demonstrating how and why the Native Warriors protect the land, are good stewards of natural resources, and are generous in service to others.When surveyed, teachers will report Native American students will have a stronger sense of self-pride, will be more engaged in history classes, and will develop a stronger commitment to protect the land.Teachers will report that students are more engaged in learning about this topic.
The 90-second segments aired on Ampers stations statewide reaching an estimated 330,000 people.The three-minute segments aired in and around: St. Cloud; Thief River Falls; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Fond du Lac/Cloquet; Leech Lake/Cass Lake; White Earth/Callaway; and Bois Forte/Nett Lake.