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Visit A Novel … on an Ojibwe Reservation

T

he Last Report on the Mir- acles at Little No Horse (HarperCollins, 2001) is a

remarkable novel by Louise Erdrich, whose mother was Ojibwe. It follows the fictional Father Damien Modeste, who conceals an incredible secret while tending the Catholic flock on a mythical Ojibwe reservation from the early 1900s to his mystical death in his 90s. The Last Report portrays the joys

and privations of reservation life and the historically troubled interaction with whites. Damien’s relationships with the nuns, the Ojibwe — especially

his friend Nanapush — and life itself are beautifully depicted and very real. The Ojibwe Museum and Cultural

Center, at 603 Peace Pipe Road on Wisconsin’s Lac du Flambeau reserva- tion, is about 170 miles from Green Bay. Exhibits include Ojibwe arts, crafts, traditional clothing, and tribal history. The museum offers classes and cultural programs and recently received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to protect and increase its collection and plan for the future. A gift shop offers baskets, clothing, art, and other unique items made by

online: Visit http://nmai.si.edu and search for Ojibwe for more information. 32 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2016

American Indians in accordance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. — Col. Glenn Pribus, USAF (Ret), and Marilyn Pribus

PHOTOS: ABOVE, DADEROT; TOP, SHUTTERSTOCK