Jingle Dancer -by Cynthia Leitich Smith 32 pgs

"Jenna, a contemporary Muscogee (Creek) girl in Oklahoma, wants to honor a family tradition by jingle dancing at the next powwow. But where will she find enough jingles for her dress?  Jenna dreams of having a dress with jingles for the upcoming powwow, but as her grandmother notes, there aren't any extras and there isn't enough time to make them. Jenna is undeterred; she only needs four rows of jingles to make the proper sound. She visits family and friends and finally gets enough jingles to complete her regalia for the dance."  *Contemporary native character*
B&N.com

*although this isn't set in MN it does center around the jingle dress which, according to tradition, originated from Minnesota (click here for info)

Author created teaching guide (click here!)

Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer-by Sandra King 48 pgs

"A twelve-year-old Ojibwa Indian living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, learns about her tribe's traditional costumes from her grandmother and gets ready to dance at a powwow"
B&N.com

*Although this book is almost 20 years old (with outdated information: ie -schools and stores which no longer exist) it is a good resource for students to understand the preparation before powwow dancing*

The Soul of an Indian and other writings from Ohiyesa - edited by Kent Nerburn 96 pgs

"Ohiyesa, a Dakota Indian also known as Charles Alexander Eastman, is one of America’s most fascinating and overlooked individuals. Born in Minnesota in 1858, he obtained postgraduate degrees (attending Dartmouth College and medical school at Boston University), and advised U.S. presidents. This beautifully packaged reissue contains Ohiyesa’s insights on spirit, the human experience, and white culture’s impact on Native American culture."
B&N.com

*This book contains excerpts of Ohiyesa's (Charles Alexander Eastman) several books.  Could work for older elementary students as well.  This is a wonderful and thought provoking book by a Native person. Be sure to read about his accomplishments outside of being a writer!

A Life in Two Worlds -Betty Powell Skoog 113 pgs

"Betty Powell Skoog was raised in the traditional ways of her Ojibwe grandmother in northern MN and Canada.  As white settlers moved into the area, their growing influence changed Betty's way of life.  Her tales represent how the Indian people lived and adapted their way of life during the first half of the 20th century."
Amazon.com