About Anton Treuer
Dr. Anton Treuer (Waagosh)
Anton Treuer is an Ojibwe author, professor, and public speaker dedicated to Indigenous language revitalization, education, and cultural understanding.
Through writing, teaching, and public speaking, he helps communities learn, reflect, and build bridges grounded in lived experience, scholarship, and hope.
Who I Am
Anton Treuer (pronounced troy-er) is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and the author of more than twenty books on Native history, Ojibwe language, and contemporary Indigenous life. A Leech Lake and White Earth Ojibwe descendant, he lives at Leech Lake with his family.
His work focuses on strengthening Indigenous languages and cultures while helping Native and non-Native audiences better understand history, sovereignty, equity, and cultural responsibility in the modern world.
Treuer holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
What I Do
Anton Treuer speaking to students at Cretin-Derham Hall about Indigenous history and Ojibwe culture
Anton Treuer speaks nationally and internationally to schools, universities, tribal communities, nonprofits, and public institutions. His presentations are known for being accessible, candid, grounded in scholarship, and engaging across diverse audiences.
Common themes include:
Indigenous history and contemporary Native life
Ojibwe language and cultural revitalization
Cultural competency and equity
Education and addressing opportunity gaps
Tribal sovereignty, treaties, and governance
Building respectful relationships across difference
Whether speaking to students, educators, community members, or professionals, Treuer adapts each presentation to the audience and setting.
➡️ Learn more about speaking topics and availability
Books & Scholarship
Books by Ojibwe author Anton Treuer
Treuer is the author of widely used and acclaimed works including:
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask
The Language Warrior’s Manifesto
The Cultural Toolbox
Where Wolves Don’t Die
Warrior Nation
Ojibwe in Minnesota
Atlas of Indian Nations
The Indian Wars
Awesiinyensag, and more.
His writing is used in classrooms, book clubs, professional development settings, and community discussions across North America.
Leadership, Recognition & Service
Anton Treuer speaking to community outreach workers in Marshall, MN
Anton Treuer has served on numerous organizational boards and currently sits on the governing board of the Minnesota State Historical Society and the MacArthur Foundation’s Native Self-Determination Advisory Council.
His work has been supported by fellowships and awards from organizations including:
The American Philosophical Society
The National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Science Foundation
The Bush Foundation
The First Nations Development Institute
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
In 2018, he was named Guardian of Culture and Lifeways and received the Pathfinder Award from the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums.
He is actively building an Ojibwe teacher training program at Bemidji State University to help ensure the language continues to thrive for future generations.
For Event Hosts & Media
This page provides an overview. For programming, publicity, or institutional needs, the following materials are available:
➡️ Short, medium, and full biographies (PDF)
➡️ Curriculum vitae and résumé (PDF)
➡️ Contact for speaking and appearances
➡️ Photos approved for promotional use
A Note on Purpose
At the heart of Anton Treuer’s work is a commitment to education as a pathway toward understanding, respect, and shared responsibility. His work invites audiences to learn honestly from the past, engage thoughtfully in the present, and imagine a more just future together.
Anton Treuer and Brenda Moose developing Ojibwe language books in Mille Lacs, 2020