February is recognized as Black History month across the country
-- and yesterday in Williston, that history in this part of the
country was discussed. Assistant History professor Richard
Stenberg hosted a forum yesterday on the campus where he
presented his research on the role African Americans played in
the fur trade at Ft. Union. He says little is known...but they
have discovered there were some key players in the trade. It is
also interesting, that slavery was outlawed here during that
time...but that doesn't mean in didn't exist. (Richard Stenberg
- WSC Professor) "Interestingly the Missouri Compromise of 1820
said there would be no slaves in the former territories of the
Louisiana Purchase, there were still slaves operating on the
Missouri River for example, the steamboats passing right by here
en route to places like Fort Union and several of the early
managers had slaves that they had on site."