Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post Oral History Project: Interview with Fred B. Benjamin

Titles: Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post Oral History Project: Interview with Fred B. Benjamin (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Fred B. Benjamin was born on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation in 1914. He worked at the Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post as a day laborer when it was owned by Harry and Jeannette Ayer. Later, he worked and lived in the Twin Cities area until he retired in the 1960s, when he moved back to the reservation. He lived there until 1991, when he moved back to Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Fred was known throughout Indian country as one of the last old-time traditional singers, sharing his knowledge of and skills in the songs and dances of the Ojibwe. Fred was one of the singers of songs featured in "Ojibway Music from Minnesota: A Century of Song for Voice and Drum" recorded by the Minnesota Historical Society. At the time of the interview Fred Benjamin was employed by the Minnesota Historical Society as a tour guide at the trading post during the summer months. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: General information on Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post, including some detail about Indian fishing guides and Indian tourist activities at the trading post.

Dates

• 11/08/1991 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewer: Godfrey, Anthony
• interviewee: Benjamin, Fred B.

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 35
• Accession Number: AV1993.198.1

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post Oral History Project' <OH 35>

Quantity: 40 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: text

Subjects

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