News
Fall 2011 Newsletter — Now Available
Visit our Newsletter Page to review our new newsletter.
Governing North Dakota, 2011–2013 —
Now Available
Governing North Dakota, 2011–2013 is a collaborative publication of the North Dakota Studies Project and the University of North Dakota’s Bureau of Governmental Affairs. The biennial textbook is intended to provide up-to-date information about North Dakota’s governmental system and includes updates from the 2011 Legislative Assembly.
- Discusses the concept of federalism,
- Highlights North Dakota’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
- Local governments including counties, cities, townships, and special districts are introduced and discussed.
- State finance and expenditures
- This 160-page perfect-bound textbook is printed in full-color on high-quality paper and includes more than 200 photographs, charts, and other illustrations to enhance the presentation of North Dakota government.
Changes Coming in 2011
Since its authorization and funding in 2005, the North Dakota Studies Project has experienced much progress and growth. With success and growth comes change. On July 1, 2011, the North Dakota Studies Project was transferred from the North Dakota Center for Distance Education to the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Although the umbrella agency has changed, the North Dakota Studies Project continues to operate the same. All North Dakota Studies publications and services will be maintained.
Symbols of North Dakota — Now Available
North Dakota and the United States are represented by many important symbols. Since 1889, more than 15 state symbols have been officially recognized and adopted by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly to show respect and admiration for our state.
Click here for information and images for North Dakota's state symbols.
Full-color, printable, pdf versions of the symbols are also available.
North Dakota Agriculture — Now Available
A new unit in North Dakota Agriculture is now available to complement the North Dakota Studies Series for Grade 4.
Throughout the history of North Dakota, agriculture has shaped and molded the destiny of the state. North Dakota is one of America’s most agricultural states; no other industry or activity plays a greater or more vital role in the lives of present-day North Dakotans than agriculture.
Today, North Dakota has more than 30,000 family farmers and ranchers that help to supply the world with the food, feed, and fuel it needs. It is essential that North Dakota’s school students understand the historical significance of agriculture, as well as the role it plays in today’s state economy. This unit in North Dakota Agriculture will also promote an appreciation for the variety of products grown in the state—emphasizing that the source of America’s food is from the farm and ranch and not the grocery store.
North Dakota Indian Studies — Online
American Indian people have lived in the area we call “North Dakota” for centuries. Today, North Dakota is home to a number of sovereign tribal nations. The history and culture of tribal nations are important parts of the heritage of the state.To promote a better knowledge of these tribal nations, the North Dakota Studies Project, in collaboration with the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, is creating online versions of the curriculum guides for the state’s four tribal nations. The curriculum guides include “The History and Culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Sahnish,” “The History and Culture of the Standing Rock Oyate,” “The History and Culture of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa,” and “The History and Culture of the Mni Wakan Oyate” (Spirit Lake).
Originally compiled by writing teams from the various tribal nations, the content for these curriculum guides was published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction between 1997 and 2002. The new online content will be enhanced and updated to present the rich and fascinating history and culture of North Dakota’s four American Indian nations.
This online content will feature historical tribal overviews, traditional and contemporary governments, demographics, cultures, and creation narratives for each of the four tribal nations. The tragedies associated with treaty negotiations with the U.S. government, resulting in significant loss of land, is a major theme for each of the curriculum guides.
Photos from the Minnesota Historical Society and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, as well as full color maps help tell the story of these tribal nations. These online Indian Studies curriculum guides will provide excellent North Dakota Studies content for middle and high school students. The online guides will be available at www.NDStudies.org beginning the fall of 2009.
North Dakota History—
Primary Document Sets-Now Online!
A number of primary document sets have been developed to accompany and assist with the articles in the North Dakota History: Readings about the Northern Plains State textbook. These documents, chosen to tell the story about particular historic events through the eyes of those who lived in the past, are intended to provide further research, inquiry, and understanding for students and teachers investigating the fascinating history of North Dakota.
The document sets include images of original manuscripts, photographs, maps, and artifacts gathered from the archives of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The document sets are accompanied by explanatory materials and learning activities.
North Dakota History Textbook
Now Available
An exciting new book detailing North Dakota’s history is now available. North Dakota History: Readings about the Northern Plains State is collection of articles and images from more than a century of publications by the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Printed in full color, the anthology includes more than 340 photographs, maps, and other images to help bring the past into perspective. Textbook topics range from dinosaurs to automobiles, ranching and farming to politics and cultural challenges, and American Indians, immigrants and industry to missile silos and future outlooks for the 39th state.
Development of the textbook was a collaborative project between the North Dakota Center for Distance Education and the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
