AANIIN ᐋᓃᓐ
WELCOME
Meet Mary Crystal Googleye
Leech Lake and Hopi.
Treaty Educator and Tour Guide
Aaniin, Miskobinesikwe nindizhinikaaz. Gaazagaskwaajimekaag nindoojiba, Park Rapids indaa. Giizis miniwaa makwa nindoodemag.
Hello, my name is Mary Crystal, and I am the Treaty Educator here at Giiwedinong. I am from a small community on the northeast corner of Leech Lake Nation known as Chachabaaning.
In 2019, I graduated with my AA in Indigenous Leadership from Leech Lake Tribal College. Which led me to intern and eventually work for the historic Anishinabe Legal Services established in 1967 as the first independent Indian Legal Aid in the country. Where I helped tribal and non-tribal members on and around Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake Nations with their legal needs as their secretary (2019-2022) and later paralegal (2022-2023).
In 2025, I plan to continue my education online at the University of Minnesota Duluth in their Tribal Administration & Governance program. I have also trained with the Shiver Law Center Racial Justice Institute Network, which focuses on racial equity and DEI initiatives.
In the museum, your classroom can explore a variety of different exhibits that highlight significant aspects of Anishinaabe culture.
These informative displays provide a comprehensive overview of the Anishinaabe people, covering key elements such as their rich history, unique language, and traditional lands that hold great importance to their heritage.
The introductory exhibit offers a comprehensive overview of the Anishinaabe people and Akiing, “the land to which the people belong.”
The second exhibit showcases Rabbett Strickland's Renaissance-style painting of Anishinaabe oral history and ancient beings.
The third exhibit showcases Anishinaabe treaties with Indigenous nations, the United States, and the British Crown, highlighting the context of these treaties.
The largest exhibit highlights Anishinaabe treaty rights today and the Water Protector Movements of both Anishinaabe and Lakota lands, following the struggles of the Dakota Access Pipeline and Enbridge Line 3.
Anishinaabe cultural guides can lead students through the museum, providing insights into all of these historical and cultural stories of the Anishinaabe people of this land.
We believe that by immersing your students in the vibrant world of the Giiwedinong Treaty Rights and Culture Museum, we can collectively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. We look forward to welcoming your classroom and communities to our museum and embarking on this educational adventure together.
Tours are available on weekdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at a $5 fee per student, teacher, and/or chaperone.
We can accommodate groups of up to 20 people, with a minimum of 10. For groups of 20 or more, we can arrange for breaks in the session.
To book a classroom tour at Giiwedinong Treaty Rights & Culture Museum, please do the following:
To Book: To schedule an appointment with us, please use our online booking system below. This system allows you to conveniently select a date and time that works best for you.
You can elect to pay at the time of booking or when you come to the museum. If you are paying by check, please write it out to “Giiwedinong Museum.”
Tour Information: The booking system is going to ask you to tell us how many people will be attending and any specific topics you'd like covered.
Confirmation: The booking system will send you a confirmation, but we will respond to confirm the tour and share more details about your visit.
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our team for help.
We look forward to your visit.
Book your class below.
Please contact us at mary-crystal@giiwedinong.org or call (218) 203-0481 with any questions or concerns.
Reliable Native American-Related Teaching Resources by understandnativemn.org
A Guide to Reliable Native American-Related Teaching Resources, written by Odia Wood-Krueger. This first-of-its-kind guide provides educators with a reliable, classified bibliography of 550 recommendable teaching resources aligned with current state English Language Arts academic standards for use by teachers.
In conjunction with Native Governance Center, Understand Native Minnesota commissioned and co-published Minnesota Native American Essential Understandings for Educators. This guide provides teachers, curriculum developers, students, and others with a compilation of the most essential information about Native people and tribal governments in the state.
EDUCATOR GUIDES
These educator guides for the book can be downloaded for free: