Montana Conversations & Speakers in the Schools 2016–2017

PROGRAMS Montana Conversations & Speakers in the Schools

2016–2017

311 Brantly n Missoula, MT 59812 n 406.243.6022 n [email protected] n www.humanitiesmontana.org

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Montana Conversations & Speakers in the Schools Our Montana Conversations and Speakers in the Schools programs offer communities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and individual classrooms the opportunity to explore ideas and issues through a rich variety of humanities-focused public programs. We have selected speakers and programs through a statewide call for proposals and careful review process, in order to assure the highest quality. Funding is provided by Humanities Montana through grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, The Montana Office of Public Instructions, Montana Cultural Trust, and private donations.

Sponsor Requirements Organization: A $75 co-payment per program is required from the sponsoring organization at the time of the application. Payment can be made online with a credit card or by mailing a check. Upon written request, co-payment waivers will be given for small or disadvantaged organizations. If Humanities Montana declines to fund an application, the co-payment will be returned. Organizations can book three speakers per year. Speakers frequently give multiple talks in one trip, especially when community organizations partner with schools to reach wider audiences. Multiple presentations on a single trip are only counted as one of your three programs. K-12 Schools: These programs are free to schools; no copayment is required. Schools are encouraged to ask speakers to talk with multiple classes or for a school-wide assembly. We also encourage teachers to partner with local community organizations, like the public library or museum, to have evening programs for parents and other community members. Schools are limited to three speakers per year, but speakers can give multiple presentations in one trip.

*** All speaker travel involving a round trip of more than 800 miles must include multiple programs in the same community or in other communities along the route. Humanities Montana staff can help suggest other sponsors. HOW TO APPLY

1. Select a topic and speaker in advance of the proposed date. Contact the speaker directly to see whether

he or she is available on your program date.

2. Reserve a program meeting room.

3. Fill out the online application and make co-payment (if required) at least four weeks before your program.

Late applications will not be approved.

4. Begin keeping a record of the names, hours and value of volunteer time. This information is required in the

online final report due two weeks after your program occurs.

5. Wait for Humanities Montana award letter, usually about a week after we receive your application. Funding

is limited and not all requests are approved.

6. Use the press release and photo of the speaker available in the online catalog to promote your program.

7. Call your speaker again one week before your program to confirm all details.

8. Complete the online final report. The value of volunteer time you and other volunteers spend on the project

and the value of the venue space is your cost share contribution. The final report also requires audience

numbers and overall evaluation of the program.

311 Brantly n Missoula, MT 59812 n 406.243.6022

n [email protected] nwww.humanitiesmontana.org

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CONTENTS CONTEMPORARY CULTURE ................................................................................................................................... 6

UFOs and Extraterrestrials in Montana .................................................................................................................... 6

The Art of Meaningful Conversation: Let’s Talk About What’s Important ................................................................ 6

Finding and Capturing Your Story ............................................................................................................................ 6

Keeping Family History Alive ................................................................................................................................... 6

What Happened to the News? ................................................................................................................................. 6

LITERATURE .............................................................................................................................................................. 7How to Tell a War Story ........................................................................................................................................... 7

Beowulf: Monsters, Heroes, and a Heritage of Language ....................................................................................... 7

Walt Whitman and the Civil War .............................................................................................................................. 7

WordSongs: Bringing Poetry to Life ......................................................................................................................... 7

Montana’s Poet Laureate ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Developing Community Literary Programs .............................................................................................................. 8

Montana’s Historic Poets ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Express to Speak ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

Montana Gothics: Neglected Literature of the Treasure State ................................................................................. 9

Nike’s Echo .............................................................................................................................................................. 9

Introducing Montana Native American Literature ..................................................................................................... 9

Critical Literacy with Texts by and About American Indians .................................................................................. 10

NATIVE PEOPLES ................................................................................................................................................... 10The Legend of "Poker Joe" Lean Elk ..................................................................................................................... 10

Before the Horse: Northern Rockies Lifestyles ...................................................................................................... 10

The Dog Soldier Ledger Book: Art as a Source for Indian History ......................................................................... 11

Living with the Land ............................................................................................................................................... 11

Montana Indians Today: 13,000 Years and Counting ............................................................................................ 11

Paleoindians in Montana: 13,000–8,000 Years Ago .............................................................................................. 11

Song of the Dawn Priests: A History of the Crow People ...................................................................................... 12

American Indian Music: Even More Than Drums and Flutes ................................................................................. 12

Some Favorite Indian Stories ................................................................................................................................. 12

Following Nicolas Point Through Blackfeet Country .............................................................................................. 13

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NATION AND WORLD ............................................................................................................................................. 13Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History: Women in Science Living History ................................................... 13

Perspectives on Islam ............................................................................................................................................ 13

A Visit with Theodore Roosevelt Living History ..................................................................................................... 14

Islam: A Search for Peace, Place and Prosperity .................................................................................................. 14

What Do Our Constitutions Mean? ........................................................................................................................ 14

Underpinnings and Other Things: Let’s Mention the Unmentionables Living History ............................................ 15

Africa: Hopeful or Hopeless Continent? ................................................................................................................. 15

Brother Can You Spare a Dime? Laughin’ to Keep from Cryin’ ............................................................................. 15

Sixteen Tons and What Do You Get? Songs and Stories of Work in America ...................................................... 16

Great Firewall of China: Government Censorship and Control of China’s Internet ............................................... 16

Embracing Peace: The Story of the Occupation of Japan ..................................................................................... 16

Occupational Hazards: The Occupations of Japan and Iraq ................................................................................. 17

Thinking the Unthinkable: The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki .................................................................... 17

THE ARTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 17Live, Work, Play: How Can Art Bring Us Together? .............................................................................................. 17

A.J. Gibson: The Original Man ............................................................................................................................... 17

Art of Glacier National Park ................................................................................................................................... 18

Lyrical Lady or Sinful Seductress: Modern history from the perspective of the saxophone ................................... 18

Charles M. Russell: Cowboy Storyteller ................................................................................................................. 18

Starting with Huffman: Photographers of Montana’s High Plains .......................................................................... 18

Jimmie Rodgers: The Life and Times of the Father of Country Music ................................................................... 19

Gary Cooper: First, Last, and Always .................................................................................................................... 19

History of Social Dance in America: Community Dances ...................................................................................... 19

History of Social Dance in America: Couples Dances ........................................................................................... 19

American Art and Democracy: It All Comes Together in Jazz ............................................................................... 20

MONTANA AND WESTERN HISTORY ................................................................................................................... 20Chinese in Montana: Our Forgotten Pioneers ....................................................................................................... 20

Leprosy in Montana: The Story of Orville Willet ..................................................................................................... 20

Jeannette Rankin—American Conscience Living History ...................................................................................... 21

Kid Gloves and Brass Knuckles: The Life of Nancy Cooper Russell Living History .............................................. 21

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A Black Homesteader’s Struggle ........................................................................................................................... 21

Great Grandfather’s Montana Journey: The Irish Horseman and the Northern Cheyenne ................................... 21

Penny Postcards and Prairie Flowers .................................................................................................................... 22

1988 Yellowstone Fires .......................................................................................................................................... 22

Getting Away with Murder: The Wyoming Cattle Barons, 1880–1910 ................................................................... 22

Champion Buffalo Hunter Yellowstone Vic Smith Living History ........................................................................... 22

Sgt. John Ordway of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Living History ..................................................................... 23

Fashioning Montana: Clothing and Culture in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras Living History ........................... 23

George Bird Grinnell: Father of Glacier National Park Living History .................................................................... 23

Montana Women Making History ........................................................................................................................... 23

Hand-Raised: The Historic Barns of Montana ....................................................................................................... 24

Meagher of the Sword: Montana’s First Governor, Thomas Francis Meagher Living History ............................... 24

Singing the Westward Legacy ............................................................................................................................... 24

Sidesaddles and Geysers: Women’s Adventures in Early Yellowstone ................................................................ 25

Mrs. Woody’s Trunk Full of Memories Living History ............................................................................................. 25

Home, Home on the Ranch ................................................................................................................................... 25

A Visit with an 1879 American Fur Co. Trader Living History ................................................................................ 25

Homestead Dreams ............................................................................................................................................... 25

Montana Towns: Then, Now, Tomorrow ................................................................................................................ 26

The Corps of Discovery: Tomahawks, Rifles, and Food for Thought .................................................................... 26

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CONTEMPORARY CULTURE

UFOs and Extraterrestrials in Montana Joan Bird Author, researcher, and zoologist [email protected] (406) 449-2925 (home); (406) 459-7922 (cell) While many UFO sightings can be conventionally explained, a small percentage of reports remain unexplained in both government and private investigations. Montana is home to some of the most significant, well-documented and interesting UFO reports in the history of ufology. This presentation is a short course in UFO literacy, using Montana events to illustrate different aspects of the phenomenon. Montana seems to be a place where there is a lot of historical UFO activity and the audience is invited to share their own or their family’s stories. The Art of Meaningful Conversation: Let’s Talk About What’s Important Lowell Jaeger Author, professor, Flathead Valley Community College [email protected] (406) 261-1766 Discussion facilitator Lowell Jaeger uses stimulating short pieces of literature to generate lively, thoughtful, engaging conversations concerning topics important to our everyday lives. The reading and the focus for these conversations can be tailored to your group’s particular interests and needs. These guided discussions honor diverse perspectives and are a great way to bring people together for an hour of shared thoughts and surprising insights. Participants often rediscover how pleasing a meaningful conversation can be. And how much fun! Finding and Capturing Your Story Susie Risho Executive director of StoryKeepers [email protected] (406) 544-0891 Risho inspires and instructs people to find and keep their own, or their loved ones’ stories. She guides and ignites participants’ memories to recall unique and common experiences, which can model how they or another person will come upon their own memories. There are opportunities for sharing orally as well as various writing experiences, including developing skills in organizing, memory prompting, automatic writing, photo-journaling, and using historical fiction. Participants can gain knowledge and confidence to actually capture real life stories. Keeping Family History Alive Dorothea Susag Retired language arts and Heritage Project teacher, author [email protected] (406) 467-2807 Using video and recorded family interviews, primary documents including photographs, and examples of PowerPoint and print final products, participants are introduced to the basics of research and interviewing skills, organizational strategies, and possible products to keep family history alive. This can be a classroom presentation as well one supported by a local historical society or community group. What Happened to the News? Dennis Swibold Professor and director, University of Montana’s School of Journalism [email protected] (406) 239-2101 Never has so much news been available. The trick is knowing how to find it—and how to judge its credibility. This program—presented by a veteran journalist, author and educator—takes listeners behind the curtain to reveal how

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the news is made and explain the revolutionary changes facing today’s fast-paced news media. It also offers citizens tools and techniques for staying well-informed amid the virtual blizzard of information—and for participating directly in the civic debates crucial to their communities, state and nation.

LITERATURE How to Tell a War Story David Abrams Author, retired Army journalist [email protected] (406) 565-0347 www.davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com War stories have been around since the day Odysseus came home from the Trojan War. But how much of those stories is true and how much is exaggeration? In his short story about the Vietnam War, “How to Tell a True War Story,” Tim O’Brien wrote: "In any war story, but especially a true one, it’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seems to happen becomes its own happening and has to be told that way." Using that as a springboard, Iraq War veteran and novelist David Abrams talks about how and why he turned his combat experience into fiction and what that means for our larger perception of this 21st-century conflict. The talk also touches on how war stories are part of the healing process for wounded warriors. Beowulf: Monsters, Heroes, and a Heritage of Language Dave Caserio with Parker Brown Poet, performance artist, former literature instructor and musician [email protected] (406) 623-0093 This dramatic performance, in Anglo-Saxon, of the epic Old English poem Beowulf tells the story of Grendel’s depredations upon the Kingdom of Heorot and the warrior Beowulf’s struggle to defeat him. The presentation opens a window into the larger story of this literary classic, of the journey, quest and courage of a hero, its timeless themes of loyalty and treachery, of moral heroism, and unconscious fears of the dark and the unknown. A foundational poem of English that is both contemporary and ancient, Beowulf is a bridge to the older flow, the deeper root and memory, of our common language in full possession of its magic, wonder, and power. Open-ended discussion of the material and the contemporary, literary, folkloric or historical questions it invokes follows the performance. Walt Whitman and the Civil War Dave Caserio with Parker Brown Poet, performance artist, former literature instructor with musician [email protected] (406) 623-0093 This readers’ theatre performance/reading based on the poetry, prose, journals, and letters of Walt Whitman moves from the election of Abraham Lincoln to the heady onset of the Civil War, from battlefield to hospital ward, through the long years in between to the conflict’s end and the death of Lincoln. The Civil War is one of the central experiences of our country; it not only preserved the Union but redefined the ideals that governed that Union. Whitman, as poet, nurse, and journalist, was its witness who thought “the real war would never get in books.” Revisit and rediscover this enduring American experience through the language of Walt Whitman. Open-ended discussion of the material and the literary, contemporary, and historical questions and issues it invokes follows the presentation. WordSongs: Bringing Poetry to Life Dave Caserio with Parker Brown Poet, performance artist, former literature instructor with musician [email protected]

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(406) 623-0093 This program is a dramatic, high-energy, interactive, and intimate performance of poetry and music designed to invigorate and re-kindle the passion and interest for poetry. The duo draws from contemporary and past poets and poetry of diverse cultures and subject matter, period and themes, and fuses them with the music of jazz, blues, classical and folk traditions. The presentation features selections chosen depending on what the sponsoring organization requests, followed by audience question and answer and discussion. Montana’s Poet Laureate Earl Craig Montana poet laureate, farrier [email protected] (406) 686-9111 Comparing his work to that of Mark Twain and Will Rogers, Matthew Zapruder (of University of California Riverside) writes of Craig’s poems that they “bring something new to American literature. The landscape of his poetry is … the American West: it is full of mountains, giant weather, horses, farms, small town life, and so on. But these elements, so familiar to our imagination, are reconfigured and skewed (albeit lovingly) into odd, even at times absurdist and surreal, configurations.” Dara Wier (of University of Massachusetts MFA for Poets and Writers) writes: “He represents a perfect combination of so many of the things poetry exists to do: honor humanity, honor place and time, honor the dead, console the living, entertain us, delight us, and lend us hopes and dreams.” Craig will share his work and answer questions afterward. Developing Community Literary Programs Tami Haaland Former poet laureate, professor, Montana State University – Billings [email protected] (406) 657-2948 In this presentation, Haaland leads a community discussion about developing and nurturing local literary culture. Raised on the Hi-Line, Haaland has first-hand experience of the benefits active cultural programming can bring to Montana’s rural environments. Rural communities also face challenges building literary programs, but there are practical and innovative ways to overcome these challenges. Haaland can help communities establish writing groups for all ages, find innovative ways to cultivate local talent, and create a program of guest artists. In conjunction with any of Tami Haaland’s programs, a community may request a writing workshop tailored to the needs of any age group. Montana’s Historic Poets Tami Haaland Former poet laureate, professor, Montana State University – Billings [email protected] (406) 657-2948 Montana has been home to many poets from the late 19th century until the present. In this presentation, Haaland focuses on individual voices associated with locale, theme, or historic period and discuss themes and patterns evident in the work of Montana’s historic poets. A PowerPoint presentation highlights individual poets and poems. This program can be modified to highlight the poets associated with particular communities. Express to Speak Tahj Kjelland Poet, performance artist [email protected] (406) 818-1111 This program is designed to enhance teen and pre-teen abilities to write and perform spontaneous poetry. Better known as spoken-word poetry or hip hop, spontaneous poetry integrates real-world experience with improvised performance. “Express to Speak” gives participants the opportunity to express themselves artistically through

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storytelling. Mind-mapping exercises used in this workshop are designed to open up kids to their voice, views, and passions while giving them real-life problem-solving tools. Montana Gothics: Neglected Literature of the Treasure State Aaron Parrett Author, professor, University of Great Falls [email protected] (406) 781-0101 This presentation offers an introductory overview of important Montana literature that exists outside the canon of place-narratives. This introduction avoids academic jargon and the language of literary criticism, although it does welcome a discussion of canon-formation and how works gain entry into the list of “Montana Literature.” The presentation begins with a brief overview of the place-narrative and the history of mainstream “Montana literature.” Parrett explores how influential the anthology The Last Best Place has been, and contrasts it with Howard’s earlier Montana Margins, and encourages people to seek out marginalized Montana literature. A list of the works discussed includes I Await the Devil’s Coming (Mary MacLane), The Burning Women of Far Cry (Rick Demarinis), and Montana Gothic (Dirck Van Sickle). Montana Women Writers Caroline Patterson Author, teacher, University of Montana [email protected] (406) 546-7280 Patterson provides an hour-long survey of Montana women writers, from early Native American writers through homesteaders and settlers (Mary Ronan and Nannie Alderson) into the mining days (Mary MacLane of Butte) and the progressive era of Montana (Frieda Fliegelman and Grace Stone Coates). Finally Patterson wraps up her program with the survey of contemporary poets, memoirists and fiction writers who have help to reinterpret and re-envision the landscape of the American West (Judy Blunt, Sandra Alcosser, Melissa Kwansy, Maile Meloy, Deirdre McNamer, and Tami Haaland). To conclude, Patterson asks the audience to volunteer brief stories about remarkable women they have known: homesteaders, teachers, ranchers, rodeo riders, and homemakers. Nike’s Echo Chrysti M. Smith Writer and host of the radio series Chrysti the Wordsmith [email protected] (406) 388-7480 There are linguistic footprints left in our language by the gods, goddesses, monsters and mortals of ancient Greece and Rome. Thousands of stories were crafted around the exploits of such characters as Achilles, Hermaphrodites, the Muses, and Narcissus, who ultimately loaned their names to the English-language with terms like Achilles’ tendon, hermaphrodite, music, and narcissism. In Nike’s Echo, Chrysti M. Smith revives the myths of the ancients and explains how those stories live on in dozens of common English words. Combining images of Western mythological characters and contemporary culture, Smith reveals an often forgotten world of words. Introducing Montana Native American Literature Dorothea Susag Retired language arts and Heritage Project teacher, author [email protected] (406) 467-2807 This presentation introduces any of the following works: Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, Counting Coup by Joe Medicine Crow, American Indian Stories by Zitkala-Sa, Wind from an Enemy Sky by D'Arcy McNickle, Killing Custer by James Welch, Fools Crow by James Welch, Playing for the World: 1904 Fort Shaw Indian Girls Basketball Team, The Surrounded by D'Arcy McNickle, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Perma Red by Debra Earling, or Birthright - Born to Poetry: a Collection of Montana Indian Poetry. A one-to-two-

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hour presentation might cover one major work, but may include video, picture books, poems and some primary documents. These presentations work for students as well as book clubs, local historical societies, and other community organizations. Susag works directly with individual teachers to create an interactive presentation that can be integrated into whatever the students are currently studying. Critical Literacy with Texts by and About American Indians Dorothea Susag Retired language arts and Heritage Project teacher, author [email protected] (406) 467-2807 Using videos, oral recordings, books, treaties and poems, this presentation engages students in comparing and contrasting non-Native and Native American works to determine perspectives and the impact of meaning on past and present audiences. Examples include Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie with Joe Medicine Crow’s Counting Coup, where both address a similar situation, or Disney films with characters from the dominant culture in America and any of several minority cultures or ethnic groups, including American Indians. For high school students, a portion of an 1888 “Sweetgrass Hills Agreement” with the Assiniboine could be paired with film clips from In the Land of the Assiniboine and Montana Mosaic, and poems from Birthright—Born to Poetry: a Collection of Montana Indian Poetry. Students consider the impact of word choice and perspective on meaning, particularly with what we learn about Indians. Students discuss what a text says, what it might mean, and why the meaning matters. The ultimate purpose of this program is to help students learn to understand possible implicit meanings in whatever they read. This is critical literacy.

NATIVE PEOPLES

The Legend of "Poker Joe" Lean Elk Philip Burgess Poet and writer [email protected] (406) 728-8607 Burgess tells the story of an often over-looked figure in the Nez Perce flight for freedom in 1877. Poker Joe was a mixed French and Nez Perce man named for his love of, and luck at, the white man’s game of poker. After the disastrous Big Hole Battle, the tribe turned to Poker Joe to act as their trail chief, and many sources describe him as the chief architect of the legendary retreat that ended in that final battle in the Bear Paw Mountains in which Poker Joe was accidentally killed by one of his own people. Burgess describes how the spirit of Poker Joe led him to his own confrontation with the flesh and blood consequences of the Nez Perce tragedy, and his own mother’s death, on a holy mountaintop on the Yakima reservation. Before the Horse: Northern Rockies Lifestyles Kae Cheatham Author, photographer and researcher [email protected] (406) 465-5655 http://www.kaios.com Indian people of the Northern Rockies are most often considered part of the American Indian Horse Culture; yet their history existed long before the modern horse appeared 280 years ago. Cheatham talks about those centuries before the horse, when the extensive use of dogs was most prevalent. She gives details about the size of lodges, village layout, and the use of dogs as draft animals. To illustrate the program, Cheatham uses maps and photos, as well as animal replicas, with their bundles and sledges (travois). She discusses how and why people traveled and hunting procedures. Throughout the program, Cheatham challenges young people to show the knowledge they already have through questions and problem solving. She stresses the resourcefulness of the region’s first immigrants, and encourages people to re-think how ancient cultures are perceived and the importance of this history.

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The Dog Soldier Ledger Book: Art as a Source for Indian History Richard Ellis Author and history professor (retired) [email protected] (406) 777-3045 The Dog Soldier ledger book was picked up on the Summit Springs battlefield in 1969. It provides a history of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers between the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 and Summit Springs in 1869. Cheyenne people assisted in identifying artists (the book is the work of multiple artists), individuals and events. Thus the publication of the ledger book draws on both Cheyenne oral history and archival research. Cheyenne mixed blood George Bent expressed the wish that a photographer had been able to capture the Dog Soldiers in all their glory, but the ledger book provides a worthy substitute for photography. It provides an accurate account of Dog Soldier history and is so accurate in details that one can identify weapons and uniform items used by soldiers such as Smith carbines and Colt revolving carbines. That evidence, combined with research in military records allows the identification of U.S. military units and specific events. This program uses slides or PowerPoint. Living with the Land Louise Fischer Annishinaabe artist and cultural consultant (406) 475-3259 Fischer describes the American Indian struggle for survival in often harsh conditions, triumph over hardships, and spiritual and creative achievements. This inspiring talk enhances understanding of how the Indian peoples lived, and can be tailored to focus particularly on food, clothing, or medicine, as requested. Fischer, an artist who was raised in a traditional Indian environment, has been sharing traditional knowledge for the past thirty years. Montana Indians Today: 13,000 Years and Counting Ruthann Knudson Adjunct instructor of sociology and anthropology at Montana State University [email protected] (406) 216-2676 Montana’s seven Indian reservations include twelve tribes. Many of Montana’s tribes have lived within this area for at least 13,000 years, according to traditional oral, historical, and archaeological information, including the Kutenai and Salishan people in northwestern Montana, Blackfeet and Gros Ventre on the eastern Montana plains, and Shoshone or Bannock in southern Montana. By the early-1800s several tribes were shifting south. The Cheyenne people moved from the Great Lakes area into eastern Montana in the early 19th century. The Sioux, Assiniboine, and Cree were pushed into Montana in the 18th and 19th centuries. Knudson helps audiences understand modern reservations, tribal politics and socioeconomics by exploring the history of habitation in the state, federal conquest of the tribes, and the sociocultural diversity bred by disease, boarding schools, modern transportation and communications. Paleoindians in Montana: 13,000–8,000 Years Ago Ruthann Knudson Adjunct instructor of sociology and anthropology at Montana State University [email protected] (406) 216-2676 Montana was a different landscape 13,000 years ago, with glacial melt water to the north, more ice in the mountains, and a climate cooler than today’s—and paleoindian people lived here! Knudson discusses the Montana Anzick/Wilsall, Barton Gulch, Indian Creek, MacHaffie, and Mill Iron archaeological sites, as well as sites in North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Canadian provinces. Between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago people relied heavily on big-game food sources though they undoubtedly also used small mammals, fish, and a variety of vegetable foods. They ate buffalo, deer, elk, antelope, sheep, rabbits, salmon, trout, chokecherries, biscuitroot, prairie turnips,

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camas, and more. During these years there were also wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and natural climatic variations to which people adapted as they made the beautiful stone tools we still find today. Song of the Dawn Priests: A History of the Crow People Franco Littlelight Artist, storyteller [email protected] (406) 620-6664 www.crowindians.weebly.com The history of the Crow People is closely tied to the Montana, Wyoming, Northern Colorado, and Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan landscape. Franco Littlelight shares this history through storytelling, song, poetry, music, and images. Using oral traditions, anthropology research, and archaeological perspectives the origin story of the Crow People unfolds from the mythic wellspring to the separation from the Sioux and Hidatsa, from life along the Yellowstone to the heartbreaking separation from the Yellowstone valley marking the end of the Buffalo Days. American Indian Music: Even More Than Drums and Flutes Scott Prinzing Director MusEco Media and Education Project, elementary teacher [email protected] (406) 598-0575 www.MusEco.org Many Montanans associate American Indian music solely with powwow drumming or the Native American flute. Varieties of both of these musical forms are important to Indians all across America. However, Indians have also contributed to American music in virtually every genre, including traditions often associated with distinctly non-Indian ethnic groups, like rap, reggae, and country western. Prinzing looks at the contributions of American Indian musicians to the development of contemporary popular music, and explores a broad spectrum of music by American Indian individuals in genres ranging from blues to folk, country to gospel, and heavy metal to hip-hop. The Indian Education of Lewis & Clark Hal Stearns Historian, storyteller, guide [email protected] (406) 728-4232 A soldier-humanist, retired general Dr. Hal Stearns has traveled the trail from Monticello to Fort Clatsop. In this presentation, he is Captain William Clark looking back in time. Without question, the Corps to the Northwest needed Native Americans to succeed in accomplishing their two-plus year trip. Indians provided knowledge, food, great generosity, stories, and momentous moments. The trek West by the Corps was and is America's great land expedition. Indians and "Indian ways" added much to their success. This story is a great expression of "Indian Education for All." Some Favorite Indian Stories Hal Stearns Historian, storyteller, guide [email protected] (406) 728-4232 Native Americans are the first contributors to the culture of Big Sky Country. Their impact on the arts and our joint history, from Lewis and Clark on, and literature continues into the present. From tribal stories and ancient histories to more recent historical individuals like Sitting Bull, Plenty Coups. Sacagawea and Eloise Cobell and the Fort Shaw Girls’ Basketball Team of 1904—all of these stories add to the vibrancy and deep meaning of the Big Sky Country. Together, they provide a broad panorama to our whole, wide and fascinating history.

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The Métis in Montana History Nicholas Vrooman [email protected] (406) 443-7651 The indigenous North Americans known as Métis/Michif (and in Montana as “Landless Indians”) are part of those Aboriginal peoples who live along the Medicine Line of the Canada and United States border, between Lake of the Woods (MN) and the Rocky Mountains (MT), who did not fit as part of either national project in the reconfiguration of the North American West. During the last third of the 19th century, as these new nation-states exerted effective control over the northern Great Plains and those aboriginal societies within that geography, they made critically disastrous decisions concerning “who was who, who was whose, who was in, and who was out.” Those choices gave form to the relationships between the First Peoples of the borderlands and the federal governments of the United States and Canada today. Some First Peoples, such as Montana’s Little Shell Tribe, were left out of the settling. This presentation tells that story. Following Nicolas Point Through Blackfeet Country Sally Thompson Author, anthropologist [email protected] (preferred) (406) 531-6469 Thompson explores roots of perception through a discrete body of evidence from the Montana buffalo plains in the 1840s, when the Blackfeet met the Black Robes. The visual and narrative histories from both perspectives of this encounter provide a means to examine the factors that shape our views and, at the same time, learn some little known Montana history.

NATION AND WORLD Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History: Women in Science Living History Mary Jane Bradbury Independent scholar, and actress [email protected] (303) 257-6229 Social, political, and educational reformers in favor of opportunities for women faced enough opposition throughout history without considering that women would want to engage in scientific pursuits, scientific study being thought far beyond the capabilities of any woman. The brave women who persisted in crossing those boundaries opened the realm of scientific study to a whole new perspective, shedding new light on the study of the world around us. This program draws on the lives and writings of women like Martha Maxwell, pioneer naturalist; Maria Mitchell, astronomer; Ruth Underhill, anthropologist; and Rachel Carson, biologist, or can be tailored to suit a program theme or curriculum. Join us for a fascinating look at these pioneer scientists and the challenging world in which they followed their passion. Perspectives on Islam Samir Bitar Linguist, historian, professor at The University of Montana [email protected] (406) 243-4385 Life in Muslim societies is an intersection of religious, social, cultural, and political realities, thus for one to develop a well-rounded understanding of Muslims, their perspectives, and aspirations one must look at all the dimensions of Muslim life. For that purpose, literature can provide a valuable lens to view the Muslim societies. Bitar uses literature, film, and other resources to familiarize audiences with the heritage of Islamic civilizations around the globe and the religion of Islam. He presents different perspectives on Islam and follows it by sharing his personal experiences as a Muslim in Montana. Bitar also discusses what challenges Muslims face and how they adjust to being a minority group in America along with his personal opinions concerning ways to help promote understanding

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about the Muslim faith and tradition. The audience has an opportunity to ask questions and discuss whether it is a clash of civilizations or a golden opportunity for peaceful coexistence. A Visit with Theodore Roosevelt Living History Archer Ellwein Independent scholar and actor [email protected] (406) 488-5109 Meet the vibrant 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Even Roosevelt’s critics admired the man who took on the corporate trusts, charged up San Juan Hill, defied the Party “bosses,” built the Panama Canal, defined conservation and won a Nobel Peace Prize. Hear his views on conservation, agriculture, and democracy, all shaped by his Western experience. Portrayed by Ellwein, President Roosevelt talks of his experiences in Montana as a rancher and sportsman. Following his “press conference,” the actor/historian comes out of character for further discussion. Islam: A Search for Peace, Place and Prosperity Barry Ferst Author and philosophy professor, Carroll College [email protected] (406) 422-3247 Ferst explains how a Muslim’s life is rooted in the stories of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, and how that life is guided by the Koran and sharia. He explores parallels between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, the three Abrahamic faiths, to illuminate the religion, culture, and history of Islam. His presentation is premised on three reasons for why a discussion of Islam is so important at this time: 1) the need for Americans to gain an understanding of the rapidly growing number of their fellow citizens who are of the Islamic faith, 2) the need for insight into the cultures of those Muslim countries to which the United States’ affairs are so closely tied, and 3) the fact that Islam is a fascinating religion and way of life. Presidents at War Joan Hoff Research professor of history at Montana State University [email protected] (406) 995-4256 Hoff discusses the multiple issues arising when presidents go to war. Inarguably, the most important decision any president makes is taking the nation to war. The development of the atomic bomb and nuclear weapons during the Cold War increased presidential power and a penchant for secrecy when making war. Most presidents have not told the truth when deciding for war or tried to anticipate long-term outcomes. The country has now been on a continuous war-time basis since 1945; that is, 71 years this year. Ironically, waging a successful war is the best way for a president to ensure a positive legacy, but winning wars have become more difficult since the U.S. lost in Vietnam. What Do Our Constitutions Mean? Anthony Johnstone Associate Professor at the University of Montana School of Law. [email protected] (406) 243-6711 Johnstone considers today’s legal and political controversies through the lens of the United States and Montana Constitutions. He draws on the text and history of those documents, as well as the principles and practices of We the People, that work together to shape constitutional meaning from the halls of the United States Supreme Court to the streets of Montana. Through lively and wide-ranging discussions, participants will explore sometimes surprising perspectives that take us beyond current divisions and into the shared civic vocabulary found in our federal and state constitutions.

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Cuban-American Relations Brian Kahn Lawyer, author, journalist [email protected] (406) 444-8744 Kahn discusses the history of U.S.-Cuban relations from the 1959 revolution to the earthquake in 2014, when presidents of the two nations announced their intention to re-establish diplomatic relations. That has become reality. While Americans can now visit Cuba, and Cubans visit the U.S., it remains a violation of federal law to do almost any kind of business with Cuban firms, or to buy Cuban products. That economic embargo is developing cracks, but fundamentally remains. Major economic changes are unfolding in Cuba. It has a private real estate market, 500,000 jobs moved from government to private payrolls, and a new set of legal small/medium-sized businesses has been announced. In a near-total reversal, almost all Cuban citizens now have the freedom to travel. Brian Kahn leads a discussion about what’s going on with U.S./Cuban relations, and why. Latino America, Latino Montana Bridget Kevane Lawyer, author, journalist [email protected] (406) 994-6446 Who are Hispanics or Latinos? What is immigration reform? Why should we care? Latinos in America—Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans, and Mexicans—have had a long and important role in the shaping of the United States. Montana is no exception. Learn about our state’s Latino history, which began even before 1889, and about the more recently arrived community of Latinos in the state. Underpinnings and Other Things: Let’s Mention the Unmentionables Living History Jennie Pak Living history presenter [email protected] (406) 529-8893 In a complete departure with Victorian protocol, you are invited into the dressing room of living history presenter Jennie Pak. Pak demonstrates the dressing process of 19th century women, from shift to gown. As she dons each item of clothing, Pak explains the purpose of the garment or accessory. Suitable for all ages, this program uses humor to tell the history of women’s wear in the Victorian era. Africa: Hopeful or Hopeless Continent? Dean Pavlakis Professor of history at Carroll College [email protected] (406) 447-4395 Civil wars, the Ebola epidemic, famine, rebellions, and violence—this is what most people hear about Africa, because crisis generates news and memorable images. Yet many places in Africa are also generating improvements in living standards, democratization, and public health—so much so that the Economist weekly newsmagazine ran a cover story in 2014 called "The hopeful continent." Are Africa’s difficulties rooted in its past or its present? How are Africa’s success stories coming about? Dean Pavlakis presents a balanced view of the good news and difficulties faced by this large and diverse continent, with reference to the impact of these changes in the wider world. He discusses the progress and problems that affect the many different nations of sub-Saharan Africa, in the context of a colonial past, a post-colonial present, and the changing world economy. This talk also covers the sometimes counterproductive efforts the world has made to help Africa and the role that African individuals, societies, and institutions play in the prospects of African countries. Brother Can You Spare a Dime? Laughin’ to Keep from Cryin’ Bill Rossiter Retired instructor of literature and folklore and chair of the Humanities Division, Flathead Valley Community College

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[email protected] (406) 755-2236 During the Dirty ’30s, network radio and Hollywood followed Washington’s lead in sturdily ignoring the Depression, assuring us that “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” and that “prosperity is just around the corner.” But the rural and small-town musicians, the ones who never made the charts, played a different tune. They saw the Depression for what it was and poked wicked fun at Wall Street, greed, the American dream and, especially, at Herbert Hoover (“Look here, Hoover, see what you done. You went off fishin’, let the country go to ruin”). Montana was “ahead of the curve” when it came to dust bowls, grasshopper plagues and economic hard times. Montana newspapers from the ’20s tell of bank failures, crop losses, and deserted homesteads—issues not widely reported in the rest of the nation until a decade later. “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” views the Depression, with a glance at Montana’s early start, not through history and literature, but through songs and “illiterature,” looking at what happened to the common folks most affected by it. This bareknuckle report on the state of the union during the Dirty ’30s is accompanied by banjo, guitar and autoharp. Sixteen Tons and What Do You Get? Songs and Stories of Work in America Bill Rossiter Retired instructor of literature and folklore, chair of the Humanities Division, Flathead Valley Community College [email protected] (406) 755-2236 From “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” to “Take This Job and Shove It,” Americans have sung about work, whether they’re nine-to-fivers or dawn-to-duskers. The songs from union halls, mines, fields, factories, picket lines and jail cells are the soundtrack to an important part of American history, and they can still stir us. As one old-timer put it, “The boss had all the money, but we had all the songs.” At a time when the nation is debating about what rights workers have, these songs are worth remembering, reexamining, and perhaps re-singing. Bill Rossiter sings some of these songs and accompanies them on guitar, banjo and autoharp. Great Firewall of China: Government Censorship and Control of China’s Internet Philip Williams Professor of Chinese & Japan Studies, Montana State University [email protected] (406) 994-5136 How and why does the mainland Chinese government censor and control China’s internet with its “Great Firewall of China”? Many other authoritarian regimes worldwide also aggressively censor the internet and block thousands of foreign websites from being accessed domestically. However, China has developed the most sophisticated cyberspace policing system of this sort, and impacts a larger number of internet users than any other regime—about half a billion altogether. This slide presentation with a follow up question-and-answer session probes both traditional Chinese insecurities about foreign incursions and modern-day Leninist prohibitions against openly challenging the party line in cyberspace. Embracing Peace: The Story of the Occupation of Japan Al Zelver Author, army intelligence officer, World War II [email protected] 406-587-7070 At the end of World War II, Zelver was flown from the China to Japan where General MacArthur’s commanders and Japan’s Supreme War Council thought he—as a member of the occupation forces—would be met by a hostile population who would fight to the death for the Emperor if armed with no more than bamboo spears. Both Allied and Japanese commanders were wrong. With the war over, Zelver found the Japanese lived up to their reputation as among the most polite people on the planet. Because he speaks Japanese, he encountered many unexpected and amusing experiences. Japanese people sought him out to learn about U.S. culture and customs. One girl asked, “How do Americans do kisses?”

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Occupational Hazards: The Occupations of Japan and Iraq Al Zelver Author, army intelligence officer, World War II [email protected] 406-587-7070 Zelver, who served in the occupation of Japan, compares his experiences there with his study of the occupation of Iraq: Why Japan succeeded in a regime change from a military oligarchy to a democracy, while Iraq’s occupation led to a destabilized region with suicide and improvised roadside bombing regular events. Zelver was stunned by policy makers and pundits citing Japan as a model for what could be expected in Iraq—with their widely different cultures, traditions, histories, and religions. His study of occupations revealed that while it is not possible to forecast if an occupation will succeed, it is possible with near certainty tell that one—like Iraq’s--will fail. Thinking the Unthinkable: The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Al Zelver Author, army intelligence officer, World War II [email protected] 406-587-7070 Much of recorded “military history” is biased, inept, or misinformed. The story of the decision to use atomic bombs at the end of Word War II is no exception. Zelver, who served in the occupation of Japan was witness to the ruins of Hiroshima, which led to his study of the official records that led to the decision to bomb Hiroshima—entries from President Truman’s dairy, the top secret order to use “the special bomb,” the army memorandum reporting the awesome detonation of Trinity—code name for the test bomb, the Potsdam Declaration offering Japan “the opportunity to surrender,” and the enigmatic response to the offer from Japan’s Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki.

THE ARTS

Live, Work, Play: How Can Art Bring Us Together? Jennifer Bevill Teaching artist and creativity consultant [email protected] (917) 834-6724 Bevill uses creativity to lead participants through a discussion focused on an essential question, such as, How does change happen? How are we connected or divided? How does where we are shape who we are? Might you, I, and everyone we know, have superpowers? This program explores the role art plays in all of our lives today through fun, art-based ice-breakers, dynamic discussion, light art history and hands-on guided art making. Bevill leads audiences in looking closely and discussing what is seen. She explores how works were made, what was unfolding in the artists’ lives and the larger world at the time—and how all of this touches our lives today. Participants also explore different materials and processes to get a glimpse of what artists feel when they create. All ages and all abilities can access these creative feelings. This interactive workshop for is appropriate for children, teachers, staff or any community group hoping to deepen relationships and bring more connection and creativity into their lives. A.J. Gibson: The Original Man Hipolito Rafael Chacon Professor of art history and criticism at The University of Montana [email protected] (406) 273-0561 A.J. Gibson was one of Montana’s best known architects. A pioneer, from the 1880s to 1910s, he defined great architecture in western Montana and literally reshaped the rough and tumble western town into a modern civilized space. The self-taught Gibson was also an early automobile enthusiast and his record-setting journeys were legendary. Chacón presents Gibson’s achievements in a 40-minute illustrated presentation followed by discussion.

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Art of Glacier National Park Hipolito Rafael Chacon Professor of art history and criticism at The University of Montana [email protected] (406) 273-0561 From its creation over a hundred years ago, Glacier National Park has been a mecca for visual artists who have found much to appreciate in its natural and scenic beauty. In a 40-minute illustrated presentation followed by discussion, Chacón presents the rich visual history of the park, especially the role played by the Hill family and the Great Northern Railway in developing the park’s infrastructure as well as promoting this national treasure. The lecture focuses on the early years of tourism in the West and the importance of art as a lure to millions of visitors. Lyrical Lady or Sinful Seductress: Modern history from the perspective of the saxophone Jesse Dochnahl Musician, teacher [email protected] (920) 889-4933 This presentation and music performance illuminates the cultural and sonic impacts the saxophone had on modern history. The saxophone craze of the 19th and 20th centuries influenced monumental shifts in global culture: mass industry, portable gramophones, radio broadcasts, women’s suffrage, Prohibition, and two world wars. Dochnahl explores modern history from the perspective of the saxophone, a 170-year-old instrument that has been adored, banned, and held responsible for significant changes in popular culture. Charles M. Russell: Cowboy Storyteller Richard Ellis Author and history professor (retired) [email protected] (406) 777-3045 This slideshow looks at the career of Montana’s legendary artist and best-loved resident. Russell was first and foremost a storyteller (with words and paintbrush). In fact, Will Rogers described him as the best storyteller that he had ever known. Russell’s paintings frequently depicted actual events as well as the participants in those events and in so doing have had a continuous influence on cowboy artists. Ellis holds a Ph.D. in Western American History and has taught at Murray State University, University of New Mexico, and Fort Lewis College. Dueling Paintbrushes: George Catlin and Karl Bodmer on the Missouri Kristi Hager Painter, photographer [email protected] 406-327-6681 Two painters traveled up the Missouri River within a year of each other, George Catlin in 1832, Karl Bodmer in 1833. They had very different temperaments and very different styles of painting the same Indian villages, the same chiefs, the same sacred rituals, the same bison herds, the same river bluffs. Catlin and Bodmer also documented how each tribe painted accounts of their own lives in their own style on tipis, drums, and buffalo hides. This abundance of painting is a rich visual record of the High Plains at a unique time after Lewis & Clark but before the arrival of railways and photography. Audience members consider whether they would rather have a painted portrait, a photograph, or the buffalo robe of Mandan Chief Ma-To-Toh-Pa (Four Bears). Starting with Huffman: Photographers of Montana’s High Plains Kristi Hager Painter, photographer [email protected] 406-327-6681

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From the 1880s to the present day, photographers have been motivated to capture the elusive high plains under hot, cold, windy, dusty, muddy, and lonely conditions. Their photographs have inspired people both to fill the land as well as to preserve its emptiness. Starting with L.A. Huffman, audiences look at how each photographer uses the sky and geology to celebrate a wide, open and often inverted landscape. Jimmie Rodgers: The Life and Times of the Father of Country Music Ed Kemmick Musician, journalist [email protected] (406) 794-4481 www.lastbestnews.com Jimmie Rodgers, who was born in 1897 and died in 1933, was known in his time as The Singing Brakeman and The Blue Yodeler, and after it as The Father of Country Music. Bob Dylan wasn’t satisfied with any of those titles, so he came up with his own: The Man Who Started It All. Jimmie Rodgers has influenced countless musicians in many different genres, but his own music remains as powerful and affecting as it was when it was new. There was and there is something fresh, honest and big-hearted about his music, whether he was singing about ill-fated railroad men, lonely cowboys, love-struck city slickers or gun-toting gamblers. John and Ed Kemmick talk about Jimmie Rodgers’ life and influence, interspersed with their performance of some of his songs. Gary Cooper: First, Last, and Always Neal Lewing Actor, singer/songwriter, recording artist, playwright, poet, storyteller, author and historian [email protected] (406) 883-9212 Personifying the ideal American male, Gary Cooper, above all, was most concerned with integrity; his roles reflected those personal views. This nostalgic reintroduction to one of Hollywood’s most endearing and enduring actors recreates memorable moments, from his first silent films to his dramatic last days, through the written words he spoke. Underscored by music and socio-economic history of his day, this program not only illuminates Montana’s favorite actor but also 20th-century America. History of Social Dance in America: Community Dances Mark Matthews Writer, historian, dance caller/instructor, officer with the Missoula Folklore Society, writing instructor at The University of Montana College of Technology [email protected] (406) 203-3933 This program encompasses the gamut of fun and easy-to-learn community dances such as squares, contras and circles. During the instruction Matthews also explains the history behind the dances—focusing on how European and African styles of dance blended together in this country to form America's unique dance culture. In addition, dancing teaches children how to socialize, make eye contact, playfully interact with one another and respectfully touch one another. It also allows a chance to experience personal joy while having fun within a group—not to mention improving physical coordination and cardiovascular health, strengthening muscles, and relieving tension. National Public Radio recently reported that dancing in synchrony allows an individual to experience a feeling of congeniality that actually increases an individual's threshold for dealing with pain. Researchers think this is why so many cultures have developed synchronized dancing and why it might have other health benefits. History of Social Dance in America: Couples Dances Mark Matthews Writer, historian, dance caller/instructor, officer with the Missoula Folklore Society, writing instructor at The University of Montana College of Technology [email protected] (406) 203-3933

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This dance history program is for older students, focusing on couple dances such as the jitterbug, waltz, two-step and foxtrot. During the instruction Matthews explains the history behind the dances. For example, when teaching the jitterbug he analyzes the ways in which African-American social dance helped ease the process of race integration during the 20th century in the United States. Matthews has presented his program to classes in physical education, history, social studies, English, dance history and humanities—from kindergarten to college level. He visits your school for an entire day or two to work with every age level. Some communities also arrange for an old-time barn dance in the evening when students can dance with their parents under Matthew’s direction. American Art and Democracy: It All Comes Together in Jazz Wilbur Rehmann Musician [email protected] (406) 443-5677 America is the only place that the art form called jazz could have been created. Rehmann begins by describing the roots of jazz in the field hollers and work songs of slaves and follows the art form through to the modern jazz era of the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and beyond. Rehmann illustrates points with examples from recordings, his own saxophone playing, and video footage.

MONTANA AND WESTERN HISTORY

Chinese in Montana: Our Forgotten Pioneers Ellen Baumler Author and interpretive historian, Montana Historical Society [email protected] (406) 444-1687 (w) 406-449-3062 (h) http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com Chinese pioneers have been neglected in Montana’s written record, even though in 1870 they comprised 10 percent of the population. By the 1950s, very few remained. Chinese homes and businesses fell victim to urban renewal programs. Time erased their remote mining and railroad camps. Traces of their culture disappeared, and their stories have become obscured in myth and legend. What happened to these pioneers and where did they go? Historian and award-winning author Baumler explores Montana’s urban and remote Chinese settlements through archaeological sites, artifacts, and rare remaining landmarks, recalling the contributions of Montana’s Chinese residents and the cultural footprints they left behind. Leprosy in Montana: The Story of Orville Willet Ellen Baumler Author and interpretive historian, Montana Historical Society (406) 444-1687 (w) 406-449-3062 (h) http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com After serving a second term in the Montana legislature in 1917, Senator Orville Willett of Mineral County was diagnosed with leprosy. This program traces the story of Willett’s ten-year quarantine in Montana, his reliance on faith healing, the legislation his illness prompted, and his eventual removal to the federal leprosarium at Carville, Louisiana. Willett’s experience provides the framework to educate the audience about Hansen’s disease, its medical peculiarities, recent discoveries and treatments, and the social stigma it still carries today. Baumler’s storytelling skills bring Willett’s poignant isolation and the history of this little-understood disease to the modern audience. Profiles of African American Montanans Ellen Baumler Author and interpretive historian, Montana Historical Society (406) 444-1687 (w) 406-449-3062 (h) http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com

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African Americans, small in numbers in Montana, nevertheless have a rich and varied history that has been largely unexplored. This program introduces more than twenty African American families and individuals through historic photographs, headlines, art, and architecture. Focusing on personal stories, struggles and accomplishments, the program also touches upon the legacy of slavery, segregation and integration of schools, other laws relating to minorities, and social activities of this ethnic group. With her knack for storytelling and making history personal, Baumler offers a compelling introduction to this overlooked area of Montana history. Jeannette Rankin—American Conscience Living History Mary Jane Bradbury Independent scholar and actress [email protected] (303) 257-6229 Humanitarian, pacifist, and tireless advocate for social reform, Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to U.S. Congress, and the only member of Congress to vote against U.S. entry into both world wars. Bradbury, as Jeannette, discusses her journey from grassroots suffragist to being the first woman to participate in United State government. Hear in Jeannette’s own words her views on equality and government reform—words that ring true today. Kid Gloves and Brass Knuckles: The Life of Nancy Cooper Russell Living History Mary Jane Bradbury Independent scholar and actress [email protected] (303) 257-6229 Against the backdrop of social and political reform of the early 1900s, Nancy Cooper Russell was a woman ahead of her time. A self-taught business woman with the ability to take charge, Nancy helped Charles M. Russell become the era’s highest-paid living artist. Art historians consistently give her credit for being the reason the world has the extraordinary Russell paintings and sculptures that grace gallery and private collections today. Bradbury brings Nancy to life to share the story of her chance meeting with the Montana cowboy artist who would become her husband, about the world of art that celebrated the myth of the West at the beginning of the 20th century, about the renowned artists and celebrities the Russells knew as they traveled from New York City to the growing California suburb called Hollywood. A Black Homesteader’s Struggle Philip Burgess Poet and writer [email protected] (406) 728-8607 Burgess uses his poetry and storytelling skills to describe a black family’s experience as early settlers in the Missouri River valley of eastern Montana. Seeking refuge from the lynch-mob racism of the post-civil war South, they found dignity and independence on a beautiful and isolated homestead. Although safe from the lynch-mob’s rope, they still had to deal with the less virulent but more complicated racial attitudes of Richland County, as well as the vagaries of Northern Plains’ weather and the wandering Missouri river. Great Grandfather’s Montana Journey: The Irish Horseman and the Northern Cheyenne Philip Burgess Poet and writer [email protected] (406) 728-8607 Philip Burgess tells the story of his great grandfather’s sojourn on the 19th-century American frontier, first as witness to the Santee Sioux uprising during the Civil War, then as a pioneer in northeastern Nebraska, and then as Boss Farmer on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana during its very early years, where he and his family were witnesses to great violence and suffering. George Burgess found himself caught in a conflict

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between hungry, fearful, angry Cheyenne and local white ranchers who were violently opposed to the presence of the Cheyenne. Eventually the Burgesses had to flee for their lives. Penny Postcards and Prairie Flowers Philip Burgess Poet and writer [email protected] (406) 728-8607 Burgess describes, through poems and stories, the journey of his grandmother Anna Lee and great-aunt Dicka Lee from their family’s homestead in northern Minnesota out to eastern Montana where they became homesteaders themselves. Burgess reads excerpts from nearly three hundred post cards female relatives and friends back in Minnesota sent to Anna and Dicka Lee as they moved out into the world. The women often used these post cards like modern-day e-mail, sharing a litany of disasters, humor, illnesses, adventure, hard work, and social chatter. 1988 Yellowstone Fires John Clayton Author [email protected] (406) 446-3843 To many people in Montana, the 1988 Yellowstone fires felt like a watershed event. In the almost three decades since that memorable summer, we’ve learned a lot about fire ecology and wildfire management. But did the fires change the way people think about America’s iconic landscape and first national park? What did they mean for the culture at large? Journalist and historian John Clayton reviews the events of the summer, and leads an exploration of how Yellowstone is tied to American cultural identity. Getting Away with Murder: The Wyoming Cattle Barons, 1880–1910 Richard Ellis Author and history professor (retired) [email protected] (406) 777-3045 Ellis looks at one of the most controversial periods in Wyoming history, a time that saw the sudden growth of the cattle industry and the influx of eastern and foreign capital and individuals, who sought to monopolize public lands for their own benefit. The cattle barons organized as the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and controlled the territorial legislature and other government offices for their own benefit at about the same time as the Copper Kings controlled Montana politics. After the disastrous winter of 1886–1887 and the hard times that followed, the cattle barons tried to drive out small ranchers and farmers and ultimately murdered a number of people who challenged their efforts to control public lands. They sent an armed force into Johnson County in an effort to eliminate their competitors. The Johnson County War and related events and individuals such as Tom Horn remain controversial topics in Wyoming and have been the subject of historical research, fiction, film and television. Champion Buffalo Hunter Yellowstone Vic Smith Living History Archer Ellwein Independent scholar and actor [email protected] (406) 488-5109 Veteran presenter Ellwein brings Buffalo Hunter Yellowstone Vic Smith (1850-1925) to life in a poignant and often humorous first-person portrayal set in 1900. Victor Grant Smith had a varied career as an army scout and dispatch rider, trapper and hunter and trick shot artist and storyteller. Based on Smith’s memoir, Ellwein recounts Smith’s experiences with the likes of George Armstrong Custer, Sitting Bull and Theodore Roosevelt. This program can lead to a discussion about the demise of the buffalo and conservation as the actor comes out of character after the performance.

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Sgt. John Ordway of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Living History Archer Ellwein Independent scholar and actor [email protected] (406) 488-5109 Ellwein brings Sgt. John Ordway to life in a first-person portrayal set in 1813. First Sergeant Ordway was the only member of the Lewis and Clark expedition to record a journal entry for every single day of the journey from Camp DuBois or Wood River until their return. Seven years after returning, Ordway is a farmer in Missouri Territory, tilling the ground deeded to him from the U.S. government because of his service on the expedition. Learn about his perspective as he reminisces about “…the greatest adventure of my life.” Later the audience has the opportunity to ask questions of the sergeant and then of the actor. Alcohol, Corsets, and the Vote: A Conversation with Mary Long Alderson Living History Anne Foster Archivist and living history interpreter [email protected] (406) 224-3427 In celebration of the Montana women’s suffrage centennial, join suffragette, temperance worker, dress reformer, and journalist Mary Long Alderson for a conversation. Chairwoman of the Montana Floral Emblem campaign, president of the Montana Christian Temperance Union, and a leader in the Montana Woman Suffrage Association, Mrs. Alderson is an eloquent and passionate speaker. Drawing from her own editorials and other writings, she explains the benefits of votes for women as well as the evils of drink and tight lacing. Fashioning Montana: Clothing and Culture in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras Living History Anne Foster Archivist and living history interpreter [email protected] (406) 224-3427 How can a hoopskirt be liberating, a corset comfortable, and just how do you sit down in a bustle? Foster answers these questions and more in a presentation combining historical photographs and reproduction clothing. More than simply whims of fashion, clothing design is a reflection of society, technology, and the economy. Using styles from 1850-1920, Foster links fashion to changes in gender roles, social status, industrialization, and politics. At the conclusion of the program, two volunteers are dressed in reproduction outfits to illustrate the evolution of style and social expectations over time. George Bird Grinnell: Father of Glacier National Park Living History Hugh Grinnell Independent scholar [email protected] (520) 488-6809 The great West that George Bird Grinnell first encountered in 1870 as a 21-year-old man was shortly to disappear before his eyes. Nobody was quicker to sense the desecration or was more eloquent in crusading against the poachers, the hide-hunters, and the disengaged U.S. Congress than George Bird Grinnell, the “Father of American Conservation.” Grinnell founded the first Audubon Society, cofounded the Boone and Crockett Club with Teddy Roosevelt, and led the effort to establish Glacier National Park. Audiences will travel back in time to the 19th century, listening to Grinnell’s own words as taken from his field journals, memoirs, personal correspondence, and newspaper editorials. Montana Women Making History Anya Jabour Professor of history at The University of Montana [email protected] (406) 243-4364

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Hear the stories of some of Montana’s most significant women reformers: Jeannette Rankin, the Missoula pacifist who voted against U.S. entry into both world wars; Hazel Hunkins, a Billings woman who went to federal prison for picketing the White House on behalf of suffrage; Maggie Smith Hathaway, who pioneered child welfare legislation in the state; and Helen Piotopowaka Clarke, the first Native American woman elected to public office in the Montana Territory. Hand-Raised: The Historic Barns of Montana Chere Jiusto Executive director of Montana Preservation Alliance [email protected] (406) 443-2114 www.preservemontana.org The historic barns of Montana are a threatened part of our heritage. To capture their history and encourage their preservation, Chere Jiusto, Christine Brown and photographer Tom Ferris collaborated on the award-winning book Hand Raised: Historic Barns of Montana, released by Montana Historical Society Press in 2011. Chere Jiusto and Christine Brown have dedicated their careers to preserving Montana’s historic places, as director and education director with the Montana Preservation Alliance. MPA championed this decade-long project, which traces the agricultural history of Big Sky Country and celebrates the craftsmanship that went into building these icons of rural life. This conversation includes an overview of Montana’s barn-building history, stunning photographs of barns from across the state, and the stories attached to some of Montana’s most memorable, photogenic, and historic barns. A Ride Back in Time to the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Era Living History Perri Knize Journalist, teacher [email protected] (406) 880-1640 Become immersed in life as it was during the Rendezvous Era, from 1825 to 1840, when trappers of the Rocky Mountains forged trails that American pioneers would later follow. With images and video, Perri Knize recounts her living history horse trek with the American Mountain Men into an authentic modern-day rendezvous. The Rendezvous of the fur trade era was a wild party that drew mountain men and Indians from all corners of the map each summer, to meet a caravan from St. Louis and exchange their beaver pelts for trade goods. Dressed as a woman traveler of the period, Knize tells the story of the Rendezvous and demonstrates her period-correct clothing, tools, horse tack, and equipment. A lively discussion and plenty of time for questions follows. Meagher of the Sword: Montana’s First Governor, Thomas Francis Meagher Living History Neal Lewing Actor, singer/songwriter, recording artist, playwright, poet, storyteller, author and historian [email protected] (406) 883-9212 Thomas Francis Meagher lived a colorful life of adventure, from humble beginnings in Ireland to Montana’s first territorial governor. In between, he led Irish rebels, escaped from Van Diemen’s Land, toured the United States on a lecture circuit, designed the Irish tricolor flag, and distinguished himself as a Civil War general. His final disappearance in Ft. Benton remains an unsolved mystery. This is the story, in folklore, music, and his own words, of the man commemorated in the statue that graces the Montana State Capitol’s front lawn. Singing the Westward Legacy Neal Lewing Actor, singer/songwriter, recording artist, playwright, poet, storyteller, author and historian [email protected]

(406) 883-9212 Neal Lewing shares America’s musical legacy from Lewis and Clark to Custer, with traditional and original folk songs, history, and a few laughs. The show contains many traditional tunes, such as “Shenandoah,” “Down in the

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Mine” and “160 Acres,” plus less familiar traditional songs. The program examines the role of music in our history, our heritage and our cultural evolution, and why its importance is no less vital today. Sidesaddles and Geysers: Women’s Adventures in Early Yellowstone M. Mark Miller Independent scholar [email protected] (406) 994-9326 In the 19th century, hundreds of women risked being mauled by a bear, scalded in a geyser, or captured by an Indian to see the wonders of Yellowstone Park—and lived to tell their stories. Miller presents the very best of these travelers’ tales selected from his collection of more than 200 first-person accounts of Yellowstone travel. He covers the period between 1872 when the park was established through the Model T era in the 1920s. Yellowstone Park changed dramatically in this period. The presentation describes how developments such as roads, railroads, and hotels altered “the Yellowstone experience.” Miller places travelers’ experiences in context with biographical information, bringing the women’s stories to life in their own words and illustrating them with historic photos. Mrs. Woody’s Trunk Full of Memories Living History Jennie Pak Living history presenter [email protected] (406) 529-8893 Montana pioneer, Sarah Elizabeth Woody moved west and found herself at the forefront of the birth of a community and a state. As a wide-eyed young woman, she couldn’t know what life had in store for her. Join Mrs. Woody as she sifts through her old travel trunk. Each item sparks a poignant memory of a life well lived. Mrs. Woody ruminates on the wagon-train journey from Iowa to California, her time as a frontier-school teacher, and her marriage to Frank H. Woody, Missoula’s first mayor, in a small cabin in the burgeoning village Missoula. Home, Home on the Ranch Bill Rossiter Retired instructor of literature and folklore, chair of the Humanities Division, Flathead Valley Community College [email protected] (406) 755-2236 This musical presentation details the values, experiences, humor and tragedies unique to building a life in the rural West. Carving a home out of the high plains wilderness was tough enough, but these songs and stories—some serious, some funny, some seriously funny—show that staying for the long haul added flint to the soul. Rossiter accompanies the songs with guitar, banjo, autoharp, and harmonica. He encourages audience members to share personal or family stories about life on the range. A Visit with an 1879 American Fur Co. Trader Living History Greg Smith Ranger, naturalist [email protected] (406) 585-2404 Smith brings to life the adventures and stories of James W. Schultz through the fictitious character of Jim Deakins. The year is 1879 and through Jim Deakins audiences take part in the hunting of the last of the great bison herds, share in the adventures of the Blackfeet and their enemy the Crow, and hear stories of that “foolishness” called Yellowstone National Park. Finally, Jim Deakins shares a powerful gift given by the Blackfoot medicine warrior Red Eagle. So come on along and join Jim Deakins in the year 1879! Homestead Dreams Hal Stearns Historian, storyteller, guide

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[email protected] (406) 728-4232 In 1862, Congress passed and President Abraham Lincoln signed one of America’s most important pieces of legislation: The Homestead Act. This far-reaching law impacted Montana then, and does to this very day. Montana has always been a state marked by boom and bust—the fur trade, cattle on the open range, the gold and silver, coal and oil rushes. But no moment in our history has left a mark like that of the “honyocker” or homesteader. Stearns describes the American West’s last great agricultural land rush and the drought and depression that followed, illustrating his talk with a myriad of signs left on the landscape. Montana Towns: Then, Now, Tomorrow Hal Stearns Historian, storyteller, guide [email protected] (406) 728-4232 Montana is a state of extremes, from high mountains to great plains. Half the population lives in just five communities and another third of residents lives in just ten others. After the big ones, the remaining 134 incorporated towns are often unique, often overlooked, and all small, yet personify so much of the Big Sky. These small towns were built around gold, coal and oil, timber, cows and sheep, early trails, roads and rails. But time brings change. Why do some smaller towns hang in while others drift away? A few invent new roles and others reinvent themselves. Should we care? A discussion helps us understand the small places that are a big part of the Montana story. The Corps of Discovery: Tomahawks, Rifles, and Food for Thought Stephen Sylvester Retired professor of history, and Lewis and Clark trail workshop leader [email protected] (406) 262-4136 The Lewis and Clark Expedition travelled up the Missouri River across Montana, Idaho, and Washington, to the Pacific Ocean and back in one of America’s best-known and least understood adventures. What did the Corps of Discovery actually accomplish? What did the expedition mean to Americans at the time and later? What specific activities were important then that are less important now? How has technology affected such things as weapons, travel, food, and communication? Participants engage in a lively discussion of what the journey was actually like and what its successes and failures were and are. A Jesuit Window on Life in Western Montana in the 1840s and 1850s Sally Thompson Author, anthropologist [email protected] (preferred) (406) 531-6469 Diaries, letters, field journals, sketches and paintings by Jesuit missionaries provide particular views of life in the Rocky Mountains in the mid-19th century, during the period after the active fur trade in the region and before the treaties and arrival of government agents. This presentation engages the audience in the recorded observations and the skewed perceptions of these European Jesuits. The presentation includes primary documents from history and anthropology, including maps, sketches and paintings; quotes from literature; interviews with Native American educators; oral histories and folk traditions from local tribes; and comparison of European, Catholic life with North American Native life. Participants receive maps and learn how to figure out where things are when there are no interstate highways to guide them. Thompson then leads small group discussion focused on differences between Jesuit and Indian perceptions and expectations.

Documents

Montana Conversations & Speakers in the Schools 2016–2017