Rough Rider Award

Transcription

>>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE PARTNERS OF READ NORTH DAKOTA AND BY THE MEMBERS OF PRAIRIE PUBLIC . (APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING. FIRST LADY AND I ARE SO PLEASED THAT SO MANY OF YOU CHOSE TO COME OUT HERE THIS EVENING AND JOIN US IN THIS VERY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO ANOTHER OUTSTANDING NORTH DAKOTAN, LOUISE ERDRICH. IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO HONOR THIS NOTABLE NORTH DAKOTAN, WHO HAS ACHIEVED TRULY GREAT SUCCESS IN HER CAREER ALL THE WHILE REFLECTING CREDIT AND HONOR UPON HER HOME STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA D HER FELLOW CITIZENS. LOUISE, WELCOME HOME. >> THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE). >> AND IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT WE BE RIGHT HERE IN HER HOME COMMUNITY OF WAHPETON IN FRONT OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY HER STRONG SPIRIT AND COMPASSIONATE HEART. IN 1961, GOVERNOR WILLIAM GUY ANNOUNCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN HONORARY COMMISSION OF COLONEL IN THE NORTH DAKOTA THEODORE ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS. THE FIRST COMMISSION WAS GIVEN TO LAWRENCE WELK IN AUGUST OF THAT YEAR. SINCE THEN, 48 NORTH DAKOTANS HAVE RECEIVED THIS PRESTIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION, INCLUDING ROGER MERRIES, PEGGY LEE, ANGIE DICKENSON, WARREN SCHAFFER, WARREN CHRISTOPHER, AND OUR MOST RECENT WARREN OFEN. AS YOU CAN SEE A GROUP OF DIVERSE ACHIEVERS. THEY REPRESENT NORTH DAKOTA'S FINEST, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE STATE IN ACHIEVING NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN THEIR FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR THEREBY REFLECTING CREDIT AND HONOR, AS THE STATE STATUTE SAYS, UPON THIS STATE AND ITS CITIZENS. TONIGHT, I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IN ADDITION TO THIS IMPRESSIVE LINEUP OF NORTH DAKOTA ALL-STARS THE 39th RECIPIENT OF THE STATE'S HIGHEST COMMENDATION FOR A PRESENT OR FORMER CITIZEN. LOUISE, YOU JOIN AN ELITE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXCELLED IN THEIR FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR AND HAVE PROUDLY REPRESENTED THEIR HOME STATE AND THE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES THAT DEFINE US. AS AN AWARD WINNING AUTHOR AND A PROMINENT LITERARY FIGURE, YOU HAVE BROUGHT JOY AND PRIDE TO THE COMMUNITY OF WAHPETON, TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TOTAL MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA AND TO THE ENTIRE STATE AND HAVE GIVEN BACK IN SO MANY WAYS AND TO THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO IMPACTED YOUR LIFE. YOU NEVER LOST SIGHT OF YOUR HERITAGE OR IDEALS THAT HELPED MAKE YOU THE SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR YOU ARE TODAY. THE OLDEST IN A FAMILY OF 7 CHILDREN, KAREN LOUISE ERDRICH WAS BORN IN LITTLE FALLS, MINNESOTA IN 1954 AND GREW UP IN WAHPETON WHERE HER PARENTS, RITA AND RALPH, WORKED FOR THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS SCHOOL. JUST HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET RALPH AND RITA THIS EVENING. I CAN SEE WHY YOU GOT SUCH A GOOD START IN YOUR LIFE, LOUISE, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PEOPLE. BY THE WAY, SOMEONE CAME UP TO ME THE OTHER DAY AND SAID THAT I SHOULD SAY HELLO TO HIS OLD SCHOOLMATE KAREN, AND I LOOKED AT HIM, AND I SAID WHO? I NEVER REALIZED ALL THESE YEARS THAT YOU HAD ANOTHER NAME. (LAUGHTER). SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA, FROM WHOM HER MATERNAL GRANDFATHER, PATRICK GOURNEAU, SERVED AS TRIBAL CHAIRMAN IN THE 1950'S. LOUISE GRADUATED FROM DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. I'VE HEARD OF THAT. AND RECEIVED A MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE FROM JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF 14 NOVELS, AS WELL AS VOLUMES OF POETRY, CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND A MEMOIR OF EARLY MOTHERHOOD. IN 1984, HER NOVEL "LOVE MEDICINE" WON THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD. THE LAST REPORT ON THE MIRACLES AT LITTLE HORSE WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD. THE PLAGUE OF DOUBTS WON THE BOOK AWARD AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE IN 2009. THE PLAGUE OF DOVES WAS NAMED THE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE AND THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR. ONE REVIEWER HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT LOUISE'S NOVEL. ERDRICH'S IMAGINATIVE FREEDOM HAS REACHED ITS ZENITH. THE PLAGUE OF DOVES IS HER DAZZLING MASTERPIECE. THAT REVIEWER WAS A GUY THAT SOME PEOPLE IN LITERATURE HAVE HEARD OF, PHILLIP ROSS. ON NOVEMBER 15th, 2012, SHE WON THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR HER LATEST NOVEL "THE ROUND HOUSE". U.S.A. TODAY HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT HER WORK. ONE CAN ONLY MARVEL AT ERDRICH'S AMAZING ABILITY TO DO WHAT SO FEW OF US CAN, SHAPE WORDS INTO PHRASES AND SENTENCES OF INCOM COMPARABLE BEAUTY THAT THEN POUR FORTH A MESMERIZING STORY. LOUISE LIVES IN MINNESOTA WITH HER HUSBAND AND YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. WE'LL FORGIVE HER FOR THAT. AND SHE'S THE OWNER OF BIRCH BARK BOOKS, A SMALL INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE IN ST. PAUL. IN AN INTERVIEW, LOUISE CREDITED HER ACHIEVEMENTS AS A WRITER, WHO IS ALSO A WIFE, MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND BUSINESS OWNER, AMONG OTHER ROLES, TO, QUOTE, A SMALL INCREMENTAL PERSISTENT INSECT-LIKE DEVOTION TO PUTTING ONE WORD NEXT TO THE NEXT WORD. IT'S A VERY DOGGED PROCESS. IN ONE OF HER POEMS, "ADVICE TO MYSELF", SHE WROTE, PURSUE THE AUTHENTIC. DECIDE FIRST WHAT IS AUTHENTIC. THEN GO AFTER IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART. PROFOUND WORDS TO LIVE BY, AND CLEARLY, LOUISE, YOU HAVE MASTERFULLY FOLLOWED YOUR OWN ADVICE. I HAVE TO SAY IN THAT SAME POEM, I WAS ESPECIALLY DRAWN TO THESE LINES. LEAVE THE DISHES. LET THE CELERY ROT IN THE BOTTOM DRAWER OF THE REFRIGERATOR. LET AN EARTHEN SCUM HARDEN ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. LEAVE THE BLACK CRUMBS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TOASTER, AND AT THE END OF THE POEM, SHE REFERS TO THE GREAT RUSE OF NECESSITY. GREAT WORDS TO LIVE BY. ALTHOUGH THIS IS, OF COURSE, JUST LITERATURE, BETSY. I WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS TOO SERIOUSLY. (LAUGHTER). AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, LOUISE IS A MEMBER OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA AND HAS PROUDLY REPRESENTED THE TRIBE AND PROMOTED HER NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT SELMA, A COUNCILWOMAN WITH THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA WHO WILL BRING REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE TRIBE. SELMA. (APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU. GOVERNOR DALRYMPLE, RALPH AND RITA, ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF LOUISE, KAREN AS I KNEW HER WHEN SHE WAS A SHIELD, AND -- CHILD, AND HONORED GUESTS AND ALL FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, THIS IS THE DAY THAT WAS MADE TO FULL OUR TURTLE MOUNTAIN CHIPPEWA PEOPLE WITH GREAT PRIDE. WHAT A GREAT DAY FOR ALL OF US TO REJOICE IN THE SUCCESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF KAREN. I OFFER CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN TRIBAL COUNCIL, AND SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE WILL DELIVER A PROCLAMATION, LOUISE ERDRICH DAY. SO I HOPE WE GET TO SEE ALL OF YOU. (APPLAUSE). AND ESPECIALLY I WANT TO SAY TO RALPH, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO TEACH AT THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN. JUST THINK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE KAREN IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM COMING THERE. SO I APPRECIATE IT. KAREN'S SUCCESS HAS BEEN FELT BY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD REALLY, BUT IT HAS REALLY MEANT A LOT TO OUR OWN PEOPLE AND OUR STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I TAUGHT FOR MANY YEARS AND ALSO AT THE COLLEGE. THEY WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE CHARACTERS AND THE EVENTS AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE BOOKS, OF THOSE STORIES. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU ONE LITTLE EXAMPLE. ONE NIGHT, I WAS AT A WAKE AT THE CHURCH, AND ONE OF MY STUDENTS CAME UP TO ME, AND WE STARTED TALKING, AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF WEATHER THAT LOUISE WAS DESCRIBING IN HER BOOK "LOVE MEDICINE" WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT THE SHANOOK WINDS. IT MEANT SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS. THOSE BOOKS CAME TO LIFE FOR SO MANY OF THEM, AND THEY COULD REALLY SAY THAT THIS IS A PART OF ME, TOO, AND SO I KNOW THEY WERE ALL APPRECIATIVE, S THAT'S JUST ONE LITTLE EXAMPLE. AS LOUISE WAS GROWING UP, SHE INFLUENCED MANY OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HER. AND I KNOW THAT MY SISTER BERNICE AND HER FAMILY WHO LIVED HERE IN WAHPETON ALL ADMIRED HER, THE WHOLE FAMILY REALLY. AND BERNICE USED TO SAY, I WANT A DAUGHTER JUST LIKE KAREN. (LAUGHTER). BECAUSE SHE'S SO LADY-LIKE AND SO WELL-BEHAVED. SO WE PRAYED FOR A DAUGHTER, AND THEY DID GET A DAUGHTER, BUT SHE DIDN'T END UP LIKE LOUISE. (LAUGHTER). I MEAN, SHE HAS MADE A SUCCESS IN HER OWN WAY, BUT SHE BECAME A REAL TOMBOY BECAUSE SHE HAD THOSE THREE OLDER BROTHERS WHO INFLUENCED HER EVEN MORE SO. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO LOUISE AND HER PARENTS AND EVERYONE HERE, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE THAT WE GET TO ENJOY MORE OF LOUISE'S WRITINGS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SELMA. NEXT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD HIDE ERDRICH, LOUISE'S SISTER, TO SHARE WITH US SOME PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REFLECTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY. HIDE. >> BE UNAFRAID. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ASKED ME. I'M ONE OF THE YOUNGER ONES, BUT I THINK IT WAS MY EARLY TRAINING AT ST. JOHN'S TO GET UP AND READ THAT I LEARNED HERE IN WAHPETON. I'M ONE OF LOUISE'S MANY RELATIVES, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. [SPEAKING IN OJIBWA]. TODAY WE SAW FOUR EAGLES RIGHT OVER HERE, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE, AND IT MADE ME THINK OF MY SISTER. AS A NECESSARY FEW WORDS, WORDSI WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTION ON BEHALF OF FAMILY PERSONALLY AND LITERALLY AS A LITERARY SISTER. I FEEL LIKE A COCONSPIRATOR WITH LOUISE AS WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO PRESENT THE TERM ON WRITING WORKSHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THINK WE DID IT 8 TIMES TOGETHER. WE'VE DONE MANY OTHER THINGS TOGETHER. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, JUST IN SEEING ALL OF THESE REAL TIFS -- RELATIVES AND FRIENDS IS JUST SO EXCITING, AND I WANTED TO SAY I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE BERNICE. SO I THINK THAT KIND OF WORKE OUT. IT MIGHT SKIP A GENERATION, THOUGH, BUT IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE TO CELEBRATE LOUISE. IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING. AND I ASKED A FEW PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO SAY ABOUT LOUISE IN THIS BRIEF INTRODUCTION, AND FIRST OF ALL, MY PARENTS WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN THIS PORTRAIT IS PRESENTED AT THE CAPITOL, IT WILL BE NOT VERY FAR FROM WHERE OUR GRANDFATHER IS ALSO AND NEAR OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, TRIBAL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HONORED. SO IT WILL BE WONDERFUL COMING HOME IN THAT WAY, TOO. ONE OF LOUISE'S BROTHERS, HER BROTHER LEWIS, SAID THAT HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT HE LOVES HIS TWIN SISTER. (LAUGHTER). WITH SO MANY OF US IN THE FAMILY, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION. ONE OF HER SISTERS, ANGIE, WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT LOUISE ACTUALLY ATTENDS HER HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS IN WAHPETON. SHE ALSO SHOPS HERE REGULARLY AND SHE HAS TAUGHT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN THAT JC PENNEY'S IS AN EXOTIC LOCATION. (LAUGHTER). ONE OF HER NIECES SAID, SHE JUST GOT ME TWO BOOKS. HER HUSBAND JUST REALLY JUST SAID HE WAS A LUCKY GUY AND HE HAD NO COMMENT. ANOTHER NIECE WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT SHE HAD A PET CROW, WHICH REMINDS ME THAT WE ALSO SAW THREE BUZZARDS COMING IN. (LAUGHTER). OUR WHOLE FAMILY IS PROUD OF LOUISE. SHE'S THE ELDEST OF THE SEVEN OF US, AND IF YOU THINK IT WAS ONLY JUST THE SEVEN OF US, I DON'T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN IT WAS. THERE WERE ALWAYS OTHER CHILDREN, FRIENDS, RELATIVES IN OUR HOUSE, AND SHE'S BEEN OUR GUIDE AND INSPIRATION ALL THESE YEARS. SHE SHOWED US THE LESSONS OF OUR WONDERFUL PARENTS, RALPH AND RITA, AND OUR GRANDPARENTS ON BOTH THE ERDRICH AND GOURNEAU SIDE, AND OF ALL OUR DEAR RELATIVES AND TRIBAL RELATIVES. AND MORE, SHE SHOWED HER TALENTS, HER KINDNESS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HER GENEROUS, GENEROUS SPIRIT. IT SOUNDS LIKE LOUISE IS A SAINT. THIS IS TRUE, BUT SHE SHARED HER VICES WITH US, TOO. HER VICES ARE MINOR. SHE LIKES LIQUORICE, LEMON AND POPCORN. SHE BUYS IN BULK. SHE'S A SUFFER FOR A BAR GONE -- BARGAIN AND LOST CAUSE. SHE'S A NATURAL TEACHER LIKE HER PARENTS, BUT WHAT IS SHE TEACHING AND WHAT IS TEACHING IF NOT STORY TELLING? WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, OUR BIG SISTER LOUISE TOLD US THE MOST AMAZING AND OFTEN TERRIFYING STORIES. HOW LUCKY WERE WE WHEN LOUISE ERDRICH TOLD US STORIES? AMAZING BEDTIME STORIES. YOU CAN ASK MY SIBLINGS WHO ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT, WHICH IS AWFUL A MIRACLE, FOR A WONDERFUL OCCASION, WHAT THEY REMEMBER. BUT THE STORY THAT I REMEMBER THE MOST WAS THE MAN IN THE IRON LUNG. (LAUGHTER). SHE'S A ROLE MODEL TO US, AND SHE TOOK US TO WORK. I REMEMBER HER IN HER BURNT RED ORANGE LIFEGUARD SWIMSUIT, AND I REMEMBER HER WORKING WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING THE OVERPASS FOR I-29. SHE TOOK US OUT THERE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO WAS WITH ME THAT DAY, BUT WE GOT TO SIT ON THE LITTLE STOOL AND WATCH THE GRAVEL TRUCKS, AND AT SOME POINT SHE ACTUALLY PUT US IN ONE OF THE TRUCKS WITH ONE OF THE TRUCKERS. ALWAYS LIFE LESSONS. EVENTUALLY I GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH LOUISE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER WHILE SHE WAS WORKING AT THE CIRCLE NEWS IN BOSTON AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND EDITOR. AND IT'S NO WONDER THAT I ENDED UP BECOMING A WRITER LIKE MY BIG SISTER, NOT A TRUCKER. (LAUGHTER). ANGIE REMEMBERS ADMIRING HER AS A CHEERLEADER AND HOMECOMING QUEEN. ANGIE WAS CHEERLEADER AND SNOW PRINCESS, I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. LOUISE IS MORE THAN A WRITER. SHE RUNS BIRCHBARK BOOKS, AN ENCHANTED PLACE WHERE, CONTRARY TO COMMON THOUGHT, I AM NOT CO-OWNER OF THIS AMAZING PLACE IN MINNEAPOLIS. I HAVE ALL THE FUN AND NO RESPONSIBILITIES WHATSOEVER THERE. SHE TAKES ON ALL OF THAT, AND IT IS CONSIDERABLE. IT'S A COMMUNITY SERVICE TO MINNEAPOLIS AND BEYOND, PROVIDING BOOKS TO TRAVEL COLLEGES, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MAKING THE EYE -- IDEA OF NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE CENTRAL, MAINSTREAM AND AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY. IN THIS, THERE IS FREE SPEECH AND NOTHING LESS. I COMPLETELY ADMIRE HER FOR IT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY AND, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER MADE A PROFIT. SHE ALSO COMMITTED HERSELF TO FOUNDING A FUND, THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE FUND TO SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION, AND OUT OF THAT FUND WE FORMED TOGETHER WEED LOSS PRESS, AND PUBLISHER, AND WE'VE PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF BOOKS. ONE OF THEM A MULTILINGUAL OJIBWE BOOK. WE'RE ABOUT TO PUBLISH A SECOND ONE, WHICH HAS WON PRIZES FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND USED IN CLASSROOMS. SO MANY THINGS THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR ALL OF US. MANY KNOW OF LOUISE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LITERATURE IS FORMIDABLE, AND I THINK OF THEM AS ASTONISHING AND BOGGLING IF YOU KNOW THE DAILY DEMANDS ON THIS WOMAN WHO HAS, AS WE HEARD IT SAID RECENTLY, TOO MANY CHILDREN TO COUNT, AND SHE REMAINS THE BEST TO RELATIVES, A FORCE IN FAMILY, A FORCE IN COMMUNITY, A FORCE IN LITERATURE, A FORCE OF NATURE. WE KNOW ALL OF OUR FAMILY, OUR TRIBE AND OUR TOWN ARE PROUD OF HER TONIGHT, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE LOUISE ERDRICH DAY AT TURTLE MOUNTAIN. I WANT TO BE THERE. SO I'M VERY HAPPY. I'M VERY HAPPY TO INTRODUCE COLONEL LOUISE ERDRICH. >> THANK YOU. HI. THOSE WERE SPECIAL INSIGHTS THAT ONLY YOU COULD PROVIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS EVENING WE HAVE HEARD MANY EXAMPLES OF WHY LOUISE IS SO DESERVING OF THIS AWARD, AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY MORE THAT WEREN'T MENTIONED, NO DOUBT. SHE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HER ENDEAVORS AND HAS BROUGHT TO US MANY, MANY AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS. BUT WHEN WE CHOSE LOUISE FOR THIS AWARD, WE ALSO ADD A LITTLE PERSONAL RESPONSE, I THINK, TO THE QUESTION. AS A PERSON WHO HAS READ SOME OF HER WRITINGS, IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO DECIDE THAT SHE IS WORTHY OF THIS IMPORTANT AWARD TO OUR STATE. BETSY AND I LIVE ON A FARM. WHEN I MET RALPH TONIGHT, HE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, ARE YOU RELATED TO OLIVER DALRYMPLE? AND I SAID, I LIVE IN THE HOUSE THAT HE BUILT IN 1880. AND WE GREW UP ON THE FARM BACK WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MANMENT WE WORKED ON THE FARM ABOUT 70 TO 75 HOURS A WEEK, AND OUR FAMILY WAS VERY CONTAINED ON THAT FARM. OUR LIFE WAS REALLY MONKS OURSELVES. SO WHEN I READ THE PLAGUE THE DOUBTS, FOR INSTANCE, IT SPOKE TO ME BECAUSE LOUISE WRITES ABOUT FARMS, AND SHE WRITES ABOUT ROADS AND COOLIES, AND SHE WRITES ABOUT PEOPLE FROM NORTH DAKOTA WHO LIVE IN THOSE PLACES, AND THAT CERTAINLY SPOKE TO ME, AND THAT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO MAKE THESE CHOICES. TO QUOTE THE NAMESAKE OF THIS HISTORIC AWARD, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, FAR AND AWAY THE BEST PRIZE THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER IS THE CHANCE TO WORK HARD AT WORK WORTH DOING. LOUISE, THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, YOU HAVE WORKED HARD AT WORK WORTH DOING, AND YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED TONIGHT FOR THAT HARD WORK AND ALL IT REPRESENTS FOR OUR STATE. ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTH DAKOTA, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO NAME YOU THE 39th RECIPIENT OF THE NORTH DAKOTA THEODORE ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDER AWARD. LOUISE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. (APPLAUSE). AND NOW FOR THE BIG MOMENT, TO UNVEIL THE PORTRAIT OF LOUISE THAT WILL HANG IN THE STATE CAPITOL AS A LASTING LEGACY OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS, I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD SECRETARY OF STATE AL JAEGER AND MERLE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WHO SERVE ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE WITH ME TO ASSIST ME WITH THE UNVEILING. LOUISE, COME ON OVER WHERE YOU CAN BE THE FIRST ONE TO SEE IT. (APPLAUSE). >> LOUISE, I THINK IT TURNED OUT GREAT. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. I WANT TO ALSO PRESENT YOU WITH THE PRINT OF THE PORTRAIT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GET TO KEEP. UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU, THIS MUST STAY IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE CAPITOL, AND I ALSO WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR OWN SCULPTURE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. >> NO KIDDING. >> I'LL TURN THIS AROUND. (APPLAUSE). >> I'LL LET YOU TAKE OVER. >> ALL RIGHT. BEFORE I START TO SPEAK, I'M SO MOVED BY THIS PORTRAIT. FIRST OF ALL, JORDON TELLS ME I CAN BE ANY AGE I WANTED IN THE PICTURE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? MY CLASSMATE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO DESCRIBE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE SO MOVING ABOUT THIS PICTURE. BESIDES I GOT MY LUCKY EARRINGS ON, BUT THE HOUSE IN THE TOP WAS THE HOUSE, THE OLD HOUSE, WHERE MY MOTHER GREW UP ON THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION. IT WAS BUILT IN 1880, ONE OF THE OLDEST STRUCTURES EXISTING IN NORTH DAKOTA. AND IT MADE -- IT'S MADE OF HAND OAK, AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MARRIED THERE, AND THERE IS A HEART RIGHT ON THE TOP THAT MY CHILDREN AND MOTHER PUT TOGETHER WITH FLOWERS. BENEATH THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER ELIZA'S WORK. SHE USED TO GO BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRAIN AND SELL HER BEAD WORK. THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES, THAT PIECE AND THE NEXT PIECE UNDERNEATH ARE SOME OF THE FEW EXAMPLES WE'VE GOT, BECAUSE SHE HAD TO SELL THE REST TO HELP FEED HER FAMILY. THIS WAS MADE FOR ME BY DENISE, MY DEAR, RIGHT THERE. AND IT IT HAS CARRIED ME THROUGH MANY HARD TIMES AND MANY WONDERFUL TIMES. THANK YOU, DENISE. I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE IT. AND THEN THE PERSON ON THE BOTTOM NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE STANDING HERE WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND I'M GOING TO START SAYING EVERYTHING I HAVE ACTUALLY WRITTEN DOWN. I'M GOING TO START OVER. [SPEAKING IN OJIBWA]. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE THIS EVENING. [SPEAKING IN OJIBWA]. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY SACRIFICE TO KEEP ALIVE OJIBWE CULTURE WAYS AND LANGUAGE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP FROM TURTLE MOUNTAIN AND FROM ALL AROUND FROM TURTLE MOUNTAIN TO BE HERE AND THE PEOPLE FROM WAHPETON. THANK YOU, AGAIN, GOVERNOR JACK DALRYMPLE, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN CONFERRING THIS HONOR. I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU CHOSE TO VISIT WAHPETON. THE FORMER HOME OF WAHPETON RECIPIENT NATIONAL HONOR RECIPIENT AND ROUGH RIDER KEEBOL WHO I AM HAPPY TO JOIN, ACCEPTING THE TITLE IN THE SPIRIT OF MY GRANDPARENTS PAT AND MARY GOURNEAU, MARY AND LUDWIK ERDRICH, MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PEOPLE IN THE TURT TURT -- TURTLE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY. OUR TRADITION IS TO RETURN A GIFT WITH A GIFT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON MY MOTHER AT THIS TIME, MY AUNT DELORES, AND MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, THE ONES SITTING HERE, TO HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT, AND WE WOULD LIKE FIRST TO CONFER A TRADITIONAL PENDLETON BLANKET IN HONOR OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAIN CHIPPEWA UPON GOVERNOR JACK AND BETSY DALRYMPLE. YOU GUYS CAN COME UP, TOO. MY MOTHER WILL HELP DO THE BLANKETING. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HELP. MY SISTER, HELEN. SO THIS IS THE TURTLE BLANKET. >> WILL YOU STAND TOGETHER? SYMBOLICALLY, WHEN WE PUT THIS AROUND YOU, IT IS ALL OUR BLESSINGS AND LOVE. PLEASE SLEEP WELL BENEATH IT TONIGHT. >> NOW WALK BACK TOGETHER, THE WHOLE FAMILY. YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER. NO. YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF. WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU IN THE BOTTOM HERE. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO STAY TOGETHER UNDER IT, PLEASE DO. NEXT I'D LIKE TO CALL UP JODY LINK, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GIRLS, GUYS. THANK YOU. JODY LINK. JOAD -- JODY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THESE EVENTS. NOBODY KNOWS THAT THIS WOMAN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, AND SHE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR ALL SORTS OF EVENTS, SO WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A TRADITIONAL PENDLETON TURTLE BLANKET. (APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. NOW THE THREE ERDRICH WOMEN WILL ARGUE OVER WHO SITS IN THAT CHAIR. (LAUGHTER). BECAUSE NO ONE CAN TAKE THE I'M ALSO GOING TO -- I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SOME OTHER GIFTS LATER, BUT THAT WILL BE AT THE RECEPTION AT THE RED DOOR GALLERY. I BROUGHT LOTS OF BOOKS. SURPRISE. I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT, NOT A LOT, BUT THREE PIECES, AND THEY ARE ALL, I THINK, PIECES THAT COULD BE ONLY -- THEY COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN NORTH DAKOTA. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THEM. ALL RIGHT? THIS ONE IS DEDICATED TO MY FATHER, RALPH ERDRICH. IT'S CALLED LIVING DANGEROUSLY. ALTHOUGH MY PARENTS WERE SO CONCERNED FOR MY PERSONAL SAFETY THAT THEY CONSTRUCTED A PADDED HELMET FOR ME TO WEAR WHILE LEARNING TOED TODDLE, THEY NEVERTHELESS HAD THE COURAGE TO INTRODUCE ME TO CONTROLLED AND JOYOUS DANGERS. IN 1965, MY FATHER, WHO LOVED WINTER FUN, INVENTED DITCH SKIING. IT'S JUST LIKE WATER-SKIING, EXCEPT THE BOAT IS A CAR, AND THE WATER IS THE FROZEN SNOW. IT IS A SPORT THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE, OF COURSE, WHERE DITCHES FLOW AIMLESSLY BESIDES STATE FLAT ROADS, WHERE SNOW IS BOUNDLESS, AND THERE ARE NO OTHER CARS OR FENCES. NORTH DAKOTA IS PERFECT. I STOOD IN THE SNOWY MARGIN OF THE ROAD WITH MY SKI STRAPPED ON. MY FATHER TIED A LONGHAND ROPE TO THE BUMPER OF OUR CAR. I GRASPED THE KNOTTED END, HELD ON, DETERMINED NOT TO FALL OR LET GO UNLESS OF COURSE, I DID FALL, AND THEN I MUST LET GO, OTHERWISE I WAS TOLD -- AND I WAS CERTAIN I WOULD BE KILLED. A MOMENT OF ANTICIPATION. THEN MY FATHER IN HIS BATTERED WHITE ARMY PARKA WITH A SCRUFFY COLLAR GOT BACK IN THE CAR, ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW, LOOKED BACK AND WAITED FOR MY SIGNAL. AT MY SHOUT, HE STARTED THE ENGINE. AT MY NOD, HE TOOK OFF, LOOKING BACK AT ME, FORWARD AT THE ROAD, SLOWLY AT FIRST AND THEN FASTER, FASTER. HE DROVE INTO THE WHITE DISTANCE. THE SUN STOOD DIRECTLY OVER ME, MAGNETIC AND PALE. THE SMALL EVEN WIND BLOWN WAVES OF SNOW WRAPPED ANGRILY BENEATH THE SCRATCHED WOOD OF MY SKIS. COLD SNOW DUST STUNG MY FACE, AND A TOW ROPE WITH A LIFELINE, ANOTHER KIND OF CORD CONNECTING MY FATHER AND ME. DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I TURNED INTO A PRETEEN, A TEENAGER WHO INSISTED ON WEARING NYLONS TO WALK TO SCHOOL ON 40 BELOW MORNINGS. I ENDURED FROSTBITTEN ANKLES, PRAYED AT NIGHT TO BE POPULAR, PRACTICED SMILES AND SOUNDS IN FRONT OF THE BATHROOM MIRROR WHILE MY YOUNGER BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAMMERED ON THE DOOR AND TOOK UP THE LESS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING BUT MORE COMPLEX SPORT OF WINTER SKATING. I SKATED WITH MY FATHER. HE TAUGHT ME JUMPS, TURNS, AND WE ATTEMPTED TO ICE DANCE, JOINED ARM IN ARM, SPINNING AND PRACTICE CONTROL. WITH HIS STRENGTH BEHIND A TURN, I COULD VAULT INTO THE AIR. IN HIS PROTECTION, I WAS ON UNPERILOUS EDGES. FROM WINTERS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, PREPARATIONS FOR SURVIVAL, AND HE WAS ALWAYS BEHIND ME. I STILL SEE US ARM IN ARM IN OUR OLD BLACK COATS AS WE SKATED THE FIGURE 8, THE SYMBOL OF ETERNITY OVER AND OVER ON NEW ICE UNTIL THE WHITE MARKS CUT DEEPER, DEEPER, OF LOVE. (APPLAUSE). AND I'VE GOT SOMETHING DOWN THERE I HAVE TO PICK UP IN A MINUTE. BUT THIS ONE IS THE PIPELINE KISS. THIS PIECE IS INSPIRED BY A TRULY WONDERFUL EVENT THAT OCCURRED AT MY CHILDHOOD GRADE SCHOOL. I WENT TO ZIMMERMAN SCHOOL AND THEN TO ST. JOHN'S WHERE I WAS TAUGHT BY TERRIFIC TEACHERS, INCLUDING THE EXTREMELY GENTLE AND KIND FATHER MEHOK. BUT THIS VISIT BY A TRAVELING REPTILE SHOW REALLY DID HAPPEN. IT WAS, OF COURSE, EXAGGERATED, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT STORYTELLERS DO. DURING MY FIRST FULL YEAR OF SCHOOL, A SHOW WAS HELD IN THE SCHOOL GYM. THIS SHOW, ONE OF MANY SMALL TRAVELING EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCES THAT GRACE NORTH DAKOTA, HAD A POWERFUL IMPACT ON US. IT WAS ALL ABOUT DANGEROUS EXOTIC CREATURES, NOT A SLIDE SHOW OR A MOVIE. THIS SHOW FEATURED THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES. THE MAN WHO RAN THE SHOW HAD A POLISHED BALD DOME-LIKE HEAD. HIS NAME WAS PROBABLY MR. JOHNSON, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE MIDWEST. HE WORE A GRAY THREE-PIECE SUIT, AND WHEN HE REMOVED THE JACKET, WE SAW HE ALSO WORE A SNAKE WRAPPED AROUND HIS WAIST. HE GENTLY UNWOUND AND THEN CARRIED THE GLOWING BRONZE LOOP OF MUSCLE TO AN OPEN BLUE SUITCASE. HE LAID IT GENTLY INSIDE AND LOWERED THE LID. THEN FROM ANOTHER CASE, HE REMOVED A LARGE JAR WITH ENOUGH WHITE SAND IN THE BOTTOM TO BURY A TARANTULA. TOUR ENOUGH, WHEN HE SAT IT ON THE SIDE, AN ENORMOUS BLACK SPIDER TIPPED OUT. A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER FAINTED IN HER CHAIR. NONE OF US EVEN NOTICED. MR. JOHNSON HAD REMOVED A SOFT PLUME FROM HIS VEST. A FEATHER IS THE ONLY THING THAT SHOULD EVER BE USED TO COAX ALONG A TARANTULA, SAID MR. JOHNSON. THEY DO NOT LIKE TO BE POKED. AND HE PRUSHED -- BRUSHED THE TARANTULA ALONG, ENCOURAGING IT TO CLIMB THE LEG OF HIS PANTS. HE DESCRIBED HOW THEY USE LONG FANGS TO INJECT PARALYZING VENOM INTO THEIR PREY, AND HOW IT LIQUIFIED THE INSIDES OF EACH SMALL BIRDS. HE TOLD US TARANTULAS COULD LIVE TO BE 30 YEARS OLD. THE SPIDER PAUSED AT HIS BELT AND THEN TESTED THE CLOTH OF MR. JOHNSON'S SLEEVE. IT CONTINUED CLIMBING WITH ONLY THE LIGHTEST TOUCHES FROM A FEATHER UNTIL IT IT WAS ON MR. JOHNSON'S SHOULDER. THERE WERE GASPS OF THE EERIE BLACK LEGS USED THE TIP OF MR. JOHNSON'S BEARD TO ASCEND, AND ONCE IT REACHED THE TOP OF MR. JOHNSON'S BALD HELD, TRUE, THE TARANTULA RAISED ITS AWKWARD LEGS AND LOWERED ITS ABDOMEN WHERE IT RESTED. WE WERE RIVETTED. MR. JOHNSON TOLD US THAT THE BITE OF A TARANTULA IS NO MORE DANGEROUS TO A HUMAN THAN A BEE STING, BUT WE DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, HE GENTLY TIPPED HIS HEAD, SIGNALING TO THE TARANTULA THAT IT WAS TIME TO MAKE ITS WAY BACK DOWN HIS BODY TO THE JAR OF SAND. BUT JUST AS THE TARANTULA STEPPED GINGERLY ONTO HIS SHOULDER, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. THE LID POPPED UP ON THE BLUE SUITCASE AND THE BOA CONSTRICTOR RISES THROUGH THE AIR LIKE A LIVING ELECTRIC CURRENT. CONNECTED WITH MR. JOHNSON, AND THE JOLT AROUND MR. JOHNSON'S HIPS SENT THE TARANTULA SPINNING LIKE A FLAMING DISC. IT LANDED WITH AN AUDIBLE THUD AND THEN ROSE TO SHOW ITS FANGS AND DANCED AGGRESSIVELY TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE. IN THE MEANTIME, MR. JOHNSON WAS TRYING TO STAVE OFF THE CRUSHING HUG. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED JUST AS HIS TWO ASSISTANTS, PLUS THE GYM TEACHER, CARRIED IN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SHOW'S GRAND FINALE, THE AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON. THEY WERE BRINGING IT DOWN THE AISLE IN A LONG LEATHER CARRYING CASE WITH MESH WINDOWS, TO WHICH ITS MODEL BULK COULD BE GLIMPSED. THE FRONT OF THE CASE HAD BEEN OPENED SO ALL OF THE CHILDREN COULD BEHOLD THE SPECTACULAR INDIFFERENCE OF THE PYTHON'S PACE. BUT MR. JOHNSON WAS IN A DEATH STRUGGLE. THE SNAKE HAD GOT THE RAP ON HIM AND ITS HOLD SQUEEZED TIGHTER WITH EVERY BREATH. MR. JOHNSON HAD FALLEN TO THE STAGE BELOW AND KICKED THE BOARDS RESOUNDINGLY WITH RUTHLESS DESPERATION, AND NOT EVEN THE AIR TO YEP. THE TAKE OWE TARANTULA HAD PICKED ITS WAY DOWN THE SIDE OF THE STAGE AWAY FROM THE SIGH BRAITIONS BUT -- VIBRATIONS BUT TOWARD THE SCREAMING CHILDREN. AT THAT POINT, THE PEOPLE WITH THE CASE DROPPED IT AND RUSHED TO THE ASSISTANCE OF MR. JOHNSON. THEY VAULTED ON TO THE STAGE AND WERE ENGAGED IN PRYING OFF THE BOA CONSTRICTOR WHEN THE PYTHON GLIDED INTO THE MOB OF CHILDREN. LIKE MANY OF THE CHILDREN, I WAS NOW STANDING ON MY CHAIR, BUT THE CHEAP CONTINUE FOLDING CHAIRS WERE RICK -- RICKETY AND CHILDREN WERE CRACHING OFF -- CRASHING OFF RIGHT AND LEFT. THE TEACHERS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHETHER PICKING UP CHILDREN, SENDING THEM TO THE DOOR OR TRYING TO REVIVE MR. JOHNSON. THE PYTHON SLIPPED AMONG THE CHAIR LEGS, AND AS IN A NIGHTMARE, I FELL RIGHT BEFORE IT. I LOOKED UP STRAIGHT INTO ITS WISE PRIMORDIAL FACE. THE TONGUE FLICKERED SENSING THE OCCURRENCE OF PANNED -- PANDEMONIUM AND THEN ITS FORK TOUCHED MY CHEEK. THAT'S ALL. IT DID NOT OPEN ITS HINGED JAWS TO TRY AND SWALLOW ME WHOLE. IT MOVED AWAY, BUT I THOUGHT PERHAPS I WOULD BE MARKED FOREVER WITH THE PYTHON'S KISS. AND THE LAST PIECE I'M GOING TO ONE OF THE TIMES I STAYED WITH MY GRANDPARENTS, MY GRANDFATHER WALKED TO THE EDGE OF THE WOODS, AND HE BEGAN TO PRAY IN MY PRESENCE. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM THEN, BECAUSE HE WAS PRAYING IN FLUENT OJIBWE, A LANGUAGE THAT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE WATER HITTING THE BOTTOM OF A BOAT. HE WAS ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE. SO I SAT ON THE WOODEN STEPS, AND I SAID NOTHING. AND AFTER A WHILE, HE TURNED AND WALKED BACK PAST HIS RHUBARB PATCH. HE WAS CARRYING A LEATHER-COVERED BONE IN HIS HAND, AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT, A PRAYER BONE, HE SAID, THE HOLLOWED FORELEG OF A DEER INTO WHICH HE POURED ALL HE FELT NECESSARY TO LIFE. IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE HAD PRAYED FOR A SAFE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING, HE TOLD ME HE HAD PRAYED FOR ME TO BECOME FAMOUS IN SCHOOL. BY FAMOUS, HE DIDN'T MEAN SUCCESSFUL. HE DIDN'T MEAN THAT I SHOULD REALLY BECOME WELL KNOWN. HE REALLY MEANT THAT I SHOULD BE HAPPY. THE SUN WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER RAIN CLOUDS. A GOLDEN KIND OF LIGHT INTENSELY FLOODING US. HE WORE OLD BAGGY JEANS, LEATHER BOOTS, A GREEN SEARS WORK SHIRT AND A WHITE T SHIRT UNDERNEATH IT. HIS HAIR WAS PARTED ON THE SIDE AND THE COMB TRACKS WERE STILL FRESH. HE WORE GLASSES. HE STILL LIKED JAM. HIS GOLD TOOTH SHOWN SOFTLY, AND HIS EYES WERE FULL OF PLEASURE. I WENT UP TO MY GRANDFATHER AND TOOK HIS ARM TO WALK BACK TO THE HOUSE WITH HIM. IT SEEMED NO END TO HIS KINDNESS, NO END TO THE THINGS THAT ONLY HE COULD KNOW. HE BEGAN TO SING AN OLD MARKING SONG THAT HE TAUGHT TO ME AND TO OTHER GRANDCHILDREN, A SONG ABOUT OLD WOMEN WHO GOSSIPPED ENDLESSLY ALL SPRING BUT WHO LOVED THEIR DAUGHTERS, HOW SOME OJIBWE PEOPLE FEAR OR WORRY ABOUT THE OWL, BUT MY GRANDFATHER KEPT AN OWL RATHER AS A PET. SOMETIMES IT LIVED ON TOP OF THE HOUSE. SOMETIMES IT LIVED ON TOP OF THE BARN, AND MY MOTHER SPOKE OF IT BEING THERE WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL. SHE SAID IT LIVED IN THE BARN, FLEW IN AND OUT AND WALKED THE ROOF AT NIGHT HUNTING MICE. MY BABY DRIFT INTO SLEEP IN HER CAR SEAT. WE QUICKLY REACHED THE RESERVATION BOUNDARY AND JUST AS WE CROSSED, I SAW A GREAT, GREAT OWL ROOSTING ON THE POST NEAR THE HIGHWAY. AS WE PASSED, THE BIRD SPRANG UP , CLAWS, FEATHERS AND WITH FOUR WING BEATS, IT DISAPPEARED LIKE A PRAYER INTO THE LOWERING SKY. THANK YOU AGAIN. I CLAIM NOTHING SPECIAL, BUT THE LUCK TO HAVE BEEN BORN INTO MY FAMILY AND TO GROWING UP IN NORTH DAKOTA. IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE AND THE WORK OF MY LIFE TO TELL STORIES RISING FROM THIS LAND. WE LOVE AND KNOW. THANK YOU. (TRIBAL MUSIC). (APPLAUSE). >>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE PRT PARTNERS OF READ NORTH DAKOTA, OUR AUTHORS, OUR STORIES. AND BY THE MEMBERS OF PRAIRIE PUBLIC