The Duluth Story of...

What if?

What if the Native Americans Returned as a Nation State?

This story idea came to me while commuting back to my home in Minneapolis from my job in Duluth, Minnesota. I was listening to a story on NPR about something going on in Israel. Some type of new conflict between the displaced Palestinians and the Israelis. As I was listening I couldn’t help but think how the United States so favors what it does for Israel yet the displaced Palestinians seem to always get the short shift. Why do we do so much for Israel and so little for the Palestinians?

The thought came to mind, What if the indigenous peoples of North American did to the United States what the Israelis did to the Palestinians in a city in the United States. The Indians declared they were taking back part of their homeland, and then just did it. Would it help the US population better what its like to be on the losing side of something like that?

What People have Said

Very Good read, at times unable to put it down. I have learned quite a bit even though that isn’t why I read this book. At the end, I wanted more from the story! – Angel Berliki

Liberating Duluth finds a way to bring you into the story in such a way that the next day when you are walking around the city, you can envision the events happening tomorrow. It brings to light a really good questions and made me think about how often we have double standards! – Sal Rice 2022

Author's Vision

D.E. Peterson

“I hope this story will convey to young Native Americans a sense of pride in their culture and an adventure through a tale of, “What if…?”

In 1854, the United States offered the western end of Lake Superior in exchange for a significant parcel of northern Minnesota — to the Lake Superior Chippewa. European settlers, however, ignored the treaty and broke up the land. Out of this, Duluth was officially incorporated in 1878 the result of ignoring a federal treaty with the Native Americans. The municipality went on to become, per capita, the richest city in North America for a period of time.

Ultimately, the work illustrates the conflicting perspectives of national history: whose land is it, whose land was it, and who decides? ? The novel has a broad market with Native American rights advocates, and incorporates different perspectives during the three-day insurrection.