news CONTACT:
Bill Latady
218-753-6017
blatady@boisforte-nsn.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 15, 2009
Wild rice harvest of 1936 comes alive at Bois Forte Heritage Museum
‘Wild Rice Moon’ portrays summertime activities of Indian children
TOWER, MINN. – Vivid glimpses of the 1936 wild rice harvest will be on display Aug. 3-Sept. 25 at the Bois Forte Heritage Museum, located on the grounds of Fortune Bay Resort Casino. They reawaken a distant era that can powerfully inform modern day.
“Wild Rice Moon” consists of striking black and white photographs dating from the 1920s and 1930s illuminating the summertime activities of the children of Indian Island on Burntside Lake near Ely. They were snapped by Robert R. Reed, a Winona State College professor and seasonal resident of Burntside Lake. The images show members of the Boshey family during the wild rice harvest on Hula Lake and at the Boshey summer camp on Indian Island. Professor Red featured the pictures in a documentary slide lecture he presented around Minnesota.
A free open house with the exhibit’s preparer, Professor Reed’s daughter Josephine, will be held Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m.
Located on the shores of Lake Vermilion and opened in 2002, Bois Forte Heritage Museum contains permanent and temporary exhibits demonstrating the history and customs of the Bois Forte people. It is called “Atisokanigamig,” which means “Legend House.” It was named the “Official Best Cultural Experience in Minnesota” in 2008 and the national Media Association honored it with an award for interpretation
The heritage center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It is a convenient, popular attraction among guests at Fortune Bay Resort Casino, home to cutting-edge casino technology, The Wilderness nationally acclaimed golf course, a full-service marina and gourmet dining. The Legend House delivers to tourists an authentic Native American experience.
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