In partnership, the Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo public libraries, Concordia College’s Carl B. Ylvisaker Library, Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Livingston Lord Library, North Dakota State University Libraries, Moorhead Community Education, and the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County have selected Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer as the 2021 One Book, One Community selection.
An essential and engaging book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native readers, Treuer’s book answers questions with solid information, humor and compassion while building a foundation for true understanding and positive action. With questions ranging from “Why is there such a fuss about non-Native people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?” to “Why is it called a ‘traditional Indian fry bread taco’?” to “What’s it like for Natives who don’t look Native?” to “Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?”, and beyond, the book is a thoughtful, frank, funny, and sometimes personal tour of what’s up with Indians, anyway.
A professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji (Minn.) State University, Treuer is a racial equality advocate and the acclaimed author of 20 books. His equity, education and cultural work has put him on a path of service across the region, the nation and the world.
This year’s One Book, One Community reading project launches in August and features several events including community book discussions, cultural presentations and other programs. The event series includes an author visit Oct. 26 at the Knutson Campus Center Centrum on the campus of Concordia College. Further details about the author visit will be announced at a later date.
Copies of the book will be available for checkout in several formats (physical and digital) at each of the participating libraries; book club kits will also available. For a list of related events and resources, visit any participating library’s website for in-person event policies starting August 1 or visit www.1book1community.org after July 1.
In its 10th year, the One Book, One Community reading project centers on the community-wide reading of a single book and is dedicated to creating a shared conversation along with a range of related events and activities for residents of all ages.
All One Book, One Community events are free and open to the public. This project is made possible in part with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and supported by Concordia Cultural Events, Friends of the Fargo Public Library, Friends of the West Fargo Public Library and Friends of the Moorhead Library.
1 Book, 1 Community 