Anton “Tony” Treuer, professor of languages and ethnic studies at Bemidji State University, has won an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History for his book, “The Assassination of Hole in the Day.”
Treuer’s award is one of 59 to be given as part of the association’s 67th annual Leadership in History Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. The awards will be presented on Oct. 5, 2012, at a History Channel-sponsored banquet during the association’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City.
“The Assassination of Hole in the Day” explores the 1868 murder of the Ojibwe chief, Hole in the Day (Bagone-giizhig) the Younger, which made national news and inspired a variety of theories and potential conspiracies that survive to this day. On June 27, 1868, Hole in the Day left Crow Wing, Minn., for Washington, D.C., to fight the planned removal of the Mississippi Ojibwe to a reservation at White Earth. Several miles from his home, the self-styled leader of all the Ojibwe was stopped by at least twelve Ojibwe men and fatally shot.
“While most historians concentrate on the Ojibwe relationship with whites to explain this story, Treuer focuses on interactions with other tribes, the role of Ojibwe culture and tradition and interviews with more than fifty elders to further explain the events leading up to the death of Hole in the Day,” the association said in a statement announcing Treuer’s award. “‘The Assassination of Hole in the Day’ is not only the biography of a powerful leader but also an insightful analysis of a pivotal time in the history of the Ojibwe people.”
Treuer, who was appointed by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to a four-year term on the Minnesota State Arts Board in August of 2011, is author of nine books, including “Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask,” and “Ojibwe in Minnesota.” He also edits the only academic journal of the Ojibwe language.
“The Assassination of Hole in the Day” was named Minnesota’s Best Read by the Library of Congress in 2010.
The Leadership in History Awards program began in 1945 to encourage the collection, preservation and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The awards not only honor significant achievement in the fields of state and local history, but also bring public recognition to the opportunities for organizations, institutions and programs of all sizes and scopes to make contributions in this arena.
About the American Association for State and Local History
The American Association for State and Local History is a nonprofit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., the association provides leadership, service and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society. The association publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine and monthly newsletter, and also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.