Local book wins award RRHS artists featured in it

News Release
Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park is pleased to announce that Ojibwe Tales: Stories of the Ojibwe People won the 17th Annual Northeastern Minnesota Book Award in the category of Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ojibwe Tales was one of eleven considered for this award.
During the awards ceremony, presenter Bill Sozansky, University of Minnesota Duluth Library Director said,
“Ojibwe Tales is an amazing collaboration which not only embodies traditional Ojibwe values and beliefs, it was created in the spirit of those values and beliefs. This is a book of life lessons. This truly is a work of great beauty.”
This book has a number of ties to the International Falls, Fort Frances, and Rainy River area. Almost 20 years ago, Art Przybilla, retired Rainy River Community College professor, worked with Randy Councillor, then Chief of the Northwest Bay First Nation, at Voyageurs National Park. Randy asked Art to write the Ojibwe stories he helped Art refine in the form of a small book and to make an effort to have it published. Randy made this request as a means to build appreciation of the Ojibwe heritage. Randy’s request is now fulfilled.
The book consists of seven Ojibwe stories that are life lessons, an introduction, and a preface and afterthought by Art Przybilla. Artwork created by area high school students graces the cover and pages of the book.
Ojibwe Tales: Stories of the Ojibwe People was funded by a grant from the National Park Foundation and Lake States Interpretive Association. It is available at all park visitor centers.