NE North Dakota News

Minot State University is set to host Minnesota author Diane Wilson for a book discussion and reading on April 24. The event is organized by the university's Gordon B. Olson Library, the MSU English Department, the Native American Cultural Center, the MSU Diversity Council, and the POWER Center.

Wilson's visit coincides with Minot State's 34th annual Spring Honor Dance and Powwow Celebration week scheduled for April 26-27. As a descendent of the Mdewakanton Oyate and enrolled on the Rosebud Reservation, Wilson serves as executive director for the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance. She is also known for her award-winning book “Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past.”

The author will discuss “Spirit Car” at 3 p.m. on the main floor of the Gordon B. Olson Library and conduct a reading at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Arts Center.

“Diane Wilson’s visit will extend campus and community engagement with Native American traditions, deepening our understanding of the historical peoples and present-day tribes of North Dakota,” said Lizzy LeRud, MSU associate professor of literature and rhetoric.

LeRud highlighted that Wilson writes about Native American culture while also exploring her Swedish American heritage in “Spirit Car.” The book narrates her journey across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska in search of her Dakota Indian family.

“Spirit Car” received a Minnesota Book Award in 2006 and was chosen for Minneapolis' One Read program in 2023. Another work by Wilson, “Beloved Child: A Dakota Way of Life,” earned her History Colorado’s Barbara Sudler Award in 2012.

Copies of “Spirit Car” will be available for purchase at Minot State Bookstore during each event where Wilson will also sign them. The event receives partial funding from a Minot State Cultural and Intellectual Engagement Council grant.

Minot State University emphasizes excellence in education through academic experiences, active learning environments, public service commitment, and vibrant campus life.