First Person Radio: Jan 19: TRAVIS ZIMMERMAN & NICOLE LONETREE – AUDIO BELOW

First Person Radio hosts Laura Waterman Wittstock and Richard LaFortune with Andy Driscoll talk with Travis Zimmerman and Nicole Lonetree about American Indian museums. The world of museums has finally seemed to focus more on the American Indian point of view – not just from the perspective of showing more objects, but that of teaching the public what they have lacked for so long – the story of the American Indian, as told by the authentic voices of Indians themselves.

Travis Zimmerman is the Site Manager of the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and also serves as the Indian Affairs Liaison for the Minnesota Historical Society.  Travis’ work includes coordinating the Society’s Indian Advisory Committee, as well as serving as liaison to Indian communities on Minnesota’s reservations and in the urban areas.  Travis has a degree in history from St. John’s University in Minnesota and is a descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. (photo not available)

Nicole Lonetree is the American Indian Curriculum Specialist for the Minnesota Historical Society. She is responsible for developing, designing and implementing teacher professional development programs and instructional materials related to the history of American Indians in Minnesota. These curricular resources are designed to address state social studies standards for American Indian history in Minnesota, with an emphasis on the Dakota and Ojibwe.

Prior to working for the Minnesota Historical Society, Nicole was the elementary cultural teacher for the Saint Paul Indian Education Program. Nicole’s tribal affiliations are the Ho-Chunk Nation and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.