15-05-2025
Beltrami County Historical Society offering Shaynowishkung essay contest
May 14—BEMIDJI — The
Beltrami County Historical Society
and the Shaynowishkung Statue Committee are proud to announce a student essay contest in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Shaynowishkung statue in Library Park.
High school juniors and seniors (or equivalent), and college freshmen and sophomores — including students in tribal schools, public and private schools, and homeschool settings — are welcome to enter.
The contest centers on the legacy of Shaynowishkung (also known as Chief Bemidji), an Anishinaabe leader whose life and words offer powerful lessons about peace, leadership, and resilience, a release said.
"Shaynowishkung's life and words offer valuable lessons about peace, leadership and resilience," added the release. "The statue honoring him is accompanied by plaques that carefully tell his story and provide historical context."
However, in the past, many public statues provided little or no information about the people they portrayed, or they presented only part of the story — sometimes omitting difficult or uncomfortable truths.
In the essay, students should reflect on the importance of truth in how we remember historical figures:
* Why is it important to not only create monuments but also ensure they tell an accurate and complete story?
* What responsibilities do communities have when honoring historical figures?
* How does Shaynowishkung's story challenge or expand your understanding of history?
* How does his story connect to your own experiences, identity, or understanding of truth in history?
First Place will receive $250 and the opportunity to present the essay at the 10th anniversary event on Saturday, June 7, (attendance is optional). The Beltrami County Historical Society will publish the winning essay.
Two alternate winners will receive $50 each.
Essays should be 500-750 words (excluding any title or reference pages), written in size 12, sans serif font (Aptos, Times New Roman or Calibri), and double-spaced. Sources are not required, but must be cited if used (in any style).
To enter, students should submit their essay in PDF form to
depot@
with the subject line "Shaynowishkung Essay Contest."
The deadline to submit entries is midnight on Saturday, May 25.
For more information on submission guidelines and evaluation criteria, visit
or email
depot@
