'Why Treaties Matter' event about Ojibwe, Dakota treaties with U.S. government to be held in St. Paul

ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Judicial Branch and the Minnesota Tribal Court State Court Forum will host an event highlighting how Dakota and Ojibwe treaties with the U.S. government impacted the lands and history of Minnesota and its people on March 18.

The event runs noon to 1 p.m. in room 230 at Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature opening remarks from Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. In addition, professor Colette Routel, co-director of the Indian Law Program at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, will deliver a short presentation titled, “Finding the Indian Understanding of Treaties.”

Event attendees will also have an opportunity to tour “Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nation,” a nationally recognized, award-winning, traveling exhibit. The exhibit is available for free self-guided tours at the Minnesota State Law Library from March 15-31.