IMPACT STORY Prairie Public & Legacy Funding Document the History of Diverse Cultures in Northwest Minnesota
PRAIRIE PUBLIC Est. 1964 • prairiepublic.org • Moorhead & Crookston, MN
Black Histories of the Northern Plains tells the story of Black settlers, slaves, and entrepreneurs who endured struggles and successes as some of the first inhabitants of the Upper Midwest. When thoughts and images of the region known as the Northern Plains come to mind, Black people aren’t typically the first thing. Because of this lack of awareness of the history of the region’s Black population, Black Histories of the Northern Plains has made its mark as a series that finally brings these stories to the forefront. People can learn about the Black history that helped shape this region, and, with their new knowledge, have a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of these pioneers. Viewers have shared a common sentiment that these stories are meaningful, and that they wish they’d learned about them sooner: “we should already know this.”
Throughout the past year, Legacy funding has empowered Prairie Public to educate, inform, and engage viewers by creating content focused on Minnesota’s rich history, vibrant cultures, and resourceful people that make up our state. Showcasing the relevancy of Minnesota in the series Prairie Mosaic allowed viewers to become more aware of the treasures that exist around them and excited to attend events and support the infrastructure in their own communities. Clear, convenient accessibility to Prairie Public’s content is vital, which is why Legacy-funded content is available on YouTube and at prairiepublic.org. Over 60% of 2023 Legacy survey respondents said they trusted Prairie Public to deliver arts, culture, and history programming that is well-researched and unbiased.
I believe Prairie Public’s programming contributes immense value to my community. It is engaging and showcases the range of arts, culture, and history within Minnesota.
of educators surveyed have used public television content with students.
42%
AREAS OF IMPACT
Episode One: Overview The series begins with the geographic and cultural history of the Northern Plains, from the forming of the grasslands via the migration of the glaciers to the modern day.
ENGAGING CREATIVITY THROUGH STEAM
SUPPORTING EDUCATORS
ACCENTUATING HISTORY
Episode Two: On the Edge of Empire Two stories are highlighted, including the Bonga family, who found success in the fur trade and in acting as translators between the U.S. government and Indigenous tribes. The second story is that of York, a man enslaved by William Clark of Lewis and Clark.
Prairie Mosaic created an education module highlighting a STEM-related exhibit at the Becker County Museum, where visitors can experiment with science and engineering technologies. Four different styles of art were featured, including Dawn Rossbach, printmaking and stained glass; Debbie Aune, impressionistic; Ross Heir, wildlife realism; and Kent Estey, contemporary.
Prairie Public’s Artifact Spotlight series highlighted three historical relics at the Otter Tail County Historical Society, which accentuated the history of the Fergus Falls State Hospital, the invention of the Bobcat skid steer loader, and the first permanent settlers in the county, the Cutlerites, an offshoot of the Mormon Church.
Prairie Public is committed to creating supplementary materials for Legacy-created content in the form of discussion questions, hands-on activities, and sources for further reading. Over 30 videos were uploaded to PBS LearningMedia on subjects like Indigenous beadwork, the history of local bridges, the state parks of Minnesota, and the Hispanic community of the Red River Valley.
Episode Three: Slavery in a Time of Freedom Joseph Godfrey was a slave who escaped from Fort Snelling in Minnesota, lived with the Dakota, and fought in the U.S.-Dakota war. Godfrey narrowly avoided being executed as a war criminal in the aftermath of the war, in what became the largest mass execution in U.S. history, which occurred in Mankato, MN. Episode Four: Exodusters of the North William Thornton Montgomery was a man who began life as a slave on Confederate president Jefferson Davis’s Mississippi plantation. Eventually he moved north to Richland County, became a successful farmer, and founded a town called Lithia.
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