Growing up among the three largest Indian reservations in northern Minnesota, the young Anton Treuer was often frustrated by the sometimes subtle, but habitual, racism he witnessed, and the lack of anything being done about it, particularly in the classroom.

When he was a student in the public schools, Treuer remembers an atmosphere of denial, with little to no education about the social, cultural and historical contributions of American Indians. “I thought, if I’m Native and going to school, but not learning about Native people, how will others learn and develop an understanding?” Treuer says. “Part of my mission now is to remedy that.”

Today, Treuer, a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, is widely seen by his community as a leader: an educational bridge builder and cultural preservationist who is truly faithful to his mission.

Treuer bridges the divide between Indians and non-Indians in many ways. He reaches a wide audience as the author of several books about Ojibwe language and culture. His recently launched conversation series, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask, helps non-Indians gain a better understanding of the complexities of the daily life of American Indians in a safe, non-threatening way.

Treuer also volunteers with the Bemidji Area Race Relations Council where he has been a major contributor to the Shared Visions program. As part of Shared Visions, over 120 local businesses, including the university and hospital, post information and signs in Ojibwe and in English.

“It’s been amazing,” says Treuer. “I can see improvements in race around that initiative, and to be a part of that, to see someone else’s life change, is very rewarding.”

Treuer sits on many organizational boards including the White Earth Land Recovery Project and the Sanford/MeritCare Health System. His book, Ojibwe in Minnesota, was named “Minnesota’s Best Read for 2010,” by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.