The Savage Mind: Reckoning With the History of American Violence and Native Futures

As part of The Henry Ford's Celebration of Indigenous History programming, David Treuer (Leech Lake Ojibwe) will lead an important discussion drawing on his powerfully impactful book, The Savage Mind: An American Legacy (2026).

During the program, Treuer will explore the deeply personal origins of The Savage Mind, a work that began as a letter written in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder and the January 6 insurrection. Drawing from memoir, history and journalism, Treuer reflects on how Americans might make sense of a country shaped by violence while also searching for ways to hold ourselves, our families and our communities together.

The discussion will feature the central ideas of the book, including the legacy of frontier violence, the stories of Treuer's family and upbringing on the Leech Lake Reservation, and the ways those histories continue to echo in contemporary American life. Through this conversation, Treuer will invite audiences to think about history, identity and the possibility of healing with the urgency and nuance that define his distinctive storytelling.

A brief audience Q&A and book signing will follow, with the opportunity to purchase The Savage Mind.

New York Times bestselling author and editor David Treuer is Ojibwe from Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, three Minnesota Book Awards, and fellowships from the NEH, Bush Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation, and was a Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin.

Treuer's forthcoming book, The Savage Mind: An American Legacy, will be released on October 6, 2026. His most recent book, The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present, was a New York Times bestseller, a National Book Award Finalist, a Minnesota Book Prize winner, a California Book Prize winner, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, and was a finalist for the Carnegie Medal. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Harper's. He is a contributing writer for Atlantic Monthly Magazine and is an editor-at-large for Pantheon Books.

He divides his time between his home on the Leech Lake Reservation and Los Angeles, where he is a professor of English at the University of Southern California.

The event is free to the public, but registration is required as seats are limited. Registration opens October 7.

There is a maximum of six registrants per entry. Registrants will receive confirmation and event reminders via email. Please show these confirmations upon entry to the event.

Registration will close if capacity is reached.

Doors to Anderson Theater will open at 1:30 p.m. The program will begin at 2 p.m. and will be followed by a brief Q&A and book signing with the opportunity to purchase The Savage Mind.

This is a free public event; museum admission is not required.

Free parking is available in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation lot off Oakwood Boulevard near the museum Welcome Center. The Clocktower entrance on the brick circle drive may be used for pickup/drop-off for guests needing special assistance.

Please note that parts of Oakwood Boulevard may be impacted by construction. Be prepared for traffic delays or detours. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Henry Ford is committed to making our events accessible to everyone.

• Anderson Theater's main floor is fully accessible. The second-floor balcony is accessible via stairs only.
• This event will be ASL interpreted.

If you require an additional accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact our accessibility team via email at accessibility@thehenryford.org.

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