Minnesota Humanities Commission
Teacher Institute Seminar
French Legacies in Minnesota
November 10-11, 2000
Humanities Education Center
St. Paul, MN
Seminar Description
Learn how French language and culture have influenced Minnesota since
before Minnesota achieved statehood. From the Voyageurs of the 18th
century to the farmers who are still here today, the French have left
an indelible mark on Minnesota society and culture. This seminar will
help French language teachers who want to add French-Minnesota
connections to their curriculum and social studies teachers who want to
increase their knowledge about this important part of Minnesota
history.
Seminar Leaders & Presenters
Virgil Benoit, President of Association des Français du
Nord & French Professor at University of North Dakota
Carol Urness, Curator, James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota
Tom Bacig, Professor of Humanities in the Department of
Sociology/Anthropology at the University of Minnesota - Duluth David
Lanegran, Professor of Geography and Dean of Social Sciences at
Macalester College
Bill Beckman, Social Studies Teacher, Maple Grove Middle School
Seminar Coordinator & Graduate School Advisor
Matthew Brandt, Minnesota Humanities Commission and Hamline
University
Schedule
Friday November 10
9:00 – 10:00
Check-in
Tour the Humanities Education Center, complete your pre-seminar
readings, or enjoy refreshments and conversation with your colleagues.
10:00 – 10:30
Welcome and Introductions
10:30 – 10:45
Break and Graduate Credit Registration
10:45 – Noon
French Legacies in Minnesota: An Overview
Minnesota is generally seen as a state that was heavily influenced by
Norwegians, Swedes and Germans. The names of cities, towns and rivers
reflect these cultural traditions. If one looks closely at these place
names, however, another cultural tradition is present, the French. When
one travels to the town of Grand Marais or Lac Qui Parle county or lake
Mille Lacs, one sees evidence of this French influence. Virgil Benoit
will introduce us to this topic by explaining why the study of French
culture in Minnesota is a necessary component of instruction in both
Minnesota French Language and Social Studies classrooms.
Noon
Lunch
1:30 – 2:30
The Earliest French, The Jesuit Missionaries
When we think about the earliest French in Minnesota we often think of
the Voyageurs, the early French explores, or the French who ran the fur
trade. The story of the earliest French activity in Minnesota is rarely
told. Carol Urness will introduce us to these early French missionaries
in Minnesota by looking at their documents and discussing how the work
of these Jesuits helped “advertise” Minnesota to France and Europe.
2:45 – 3:30
We have all heard stories of the Voyageurs and most Minnesotans know
about the state’s importance in the fur trade. What we may be less
aware of are the people who worked the fur trade, canoed the rivers and
peopled Minnesota. Many of the individuals who were “peopling”
Minnesota were the Metis, the mixed, descendants of the native Indians
and the French voyageurs and fur traders. In order to understand the
both the uniqueness of the French relations to the native populations
and the importance of French culture and history, we must learn about
the Metis and in turn learn a little about ourselves, our state and our
place in history. 3:30
Break
3:45 – 5:00
We will continue with our discussion of the Metis in Minnesota and the
old Northwest, but we will also begin to think about why we would teach
such content in the classroom and learn about resources for teaching
this content. 5:00
Break
6:00
Dinner
7:00
Visit to the Little French Church
9:00
Movie
Saturday, November 11
7:30
Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00
From the Farms to the City
David Lanegran will present on the processes of migration, urbanization
and agriculture during the 19th and early 20th centuries. His focus
will be on the early French Canadian settlers in the Twin Cities with a
specific look at the establishment of the Township of Little Canada in
Ramsey County.
10:15 – Noon.
Teaching About French Influence in Minnesota through the Voyageurs
Bill Beckman from Maple Grove Middle School will entertain us with a
first person impression of a French Voyageur and will explain how he
helps his students gain an understanding and greater appreciation for
this moment in Minnesota history. Noon.
Lunch
1:00 – 3:00
(Optional) Content Round Tables
Teachers who are interested are welcome to stay and discuss how they
would use the content introduced during the seminar in the classroom.
As this is an optional session, you are also welcome to take your leave
and visit the Alliance Francaise’s FRENCH LEGACIES IN THE HISTORY
OF MINNESOTA celebration.