Eastman Captures in his art the details of the Native People's everyday life. The Eastman paintings in Painting the Dakota are recognized as the single most important source of information about Native American life in pre-territorial Minnesota.

Marybeth Lorbiecki has a master's degree in English and has taught students of all ages. She is especially attracted to researching and writing about topics that help one understand the inner workings of the land and the human heart. Her picture book, Sister Anne's Hands, was acclaimed by USA Today and won numerous honors, including the "Living the Dream" Award, a children's choice award that annually highlights one book that fosters the realization of the Martin Luther King, Jr., ideal. Her children's biography of Aldo Leopold, Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free, was chosen as a John Burrough's Nature Book and awarded a Distinguished Service to History Award from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Her adult biography, Aldo Leopold: A Fierce Green Fire, won a Minnesota Book Award for biography and history and also the Distinguished Service to History Award from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Lorbiecki lives in Hudson, Wisconsin, with her husband, David Mataya, and their three young children--Nadja, Mirjana; and Dmitri. She is at work on numerous book projects and awaits the publication of several picture books scheduled for 2002 and 2003. Lori K. Crowchild, a member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community (SMDC) is of Dakota, Ojibwe, and EuroAmerican descent. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in nursing from the College of St. Catherine and completed graduate studies in public health at the University of Minnesota. While working in the health field, her most rewarding efforts were in sharing HIV/AIDS prevention information with Native American communities across the United States. She now serves on the Minnesota American Indian AIDS Task Force Board of Directors. Lori is co-owner of Allies: media/art, a Dakota owned media production company. Through Allies, Lori and her business partner, Mona Smith (Sisseton Wahpeton), strive to increase awareness and understanding regarding Native American people, communities, and issues, while recruiting and promoting Native American artists. In January 2000, Lori was elected to a four year term as Secretary/Treasurer by the SMDC.