Monday,
January 31 - Book
of the Month: "Na’eda"
How much do you really know about Alaska Natives? If you live
in the “lower 48” your knowledge might be limited
to a few high school classes or perhaps what you may have seen
portrayed in movies or cartoons. But what’s the real story
about the Inupiaq, the Tlingit, or the Athabascans? This month’s
book not only features 226 traditional or IRA Native governments;
it also covers 168 village corporations and Alaska’s only
reservation in Metlakatla. The governing structure for Alaska
Natives is quite different from what tribes in the lower 48 and
Canada have experienced. “Na’eda,” which means
hello in the Dena’ina Athabascan language, is our Book of
the Month. Guest is Hallie L. Bissett, Co-Author/Na’eda.
Wednesday,
February
23 - Book
of the Month: “The Good Rainbow Road”
Stories about good over evil exist in just about every culture.
The newest book from prolific writer, Acoma Pueblo's Simon Ortiz,
blends the heritage of his ancestors with a theme that is timeless.
Overcoming challenges, danger and a people’s collective
will are woven into this story of two boys’ journey to save
their village. “The
Good Rainbow Road,” is this month’s Book of the
Month. Join us as we talk to Simon Ortiz.
Wednesday,
March
30 - Book of the Month: “Mending Skins”
What image do non-Native
people have of Indian people? What about the image Indian people
have of their own community? The issue is tackled head on by Onodaga
writer Eric Gansworth in his newest book, “Mending Skins.”
He sets his story on the Iroquois reservation in upstate New York
at a conference on protecting and reclaiming Indian images. The
characters from the tribe who speak out bring fresh, funny and
sometimes dry observations on what life is like for Indian people
today. “Mending
Skins,” is our Book of the Month for April and Eric
Gansworth is our guest.
Wednesday,
April
20- Book
of the Month: “Weaving A World: Textiles And The Navajo
Way Of Seeing”:
Among the Navajo people of the southwest weaving is a tradition
that has shaped their image of their art. But as Roseann Willink
explains in the book she co-authored, weaving is much more than
technique and craftsmanship. The rugs featured in the book speak
more about the people who created them and the stories of the
Navajo people. The weavers have a voice seldom heard and tell
the personal side to the original use of rugs in days past. While
rugs are big business there’s also a need for rugs used
during special occasions. Roseann Willink (Navajo) is our guest
and her book, “Weaving A World: Textiles and The Navajo
Way of Seeing,” is our Book of the Month.
Wednesday,
May
25 - Book of the Month: Choctaw Women in a Chaotic
World:
Several tribal societies have a place for women in their traditional
forms of government. But with the advent of Europeans, who did
not recognize the role of the woman, changes were forced upon
tribes. This is the case of the Choctaw people. Author Michelene
Pesantubbee writes about the historic role her Choctaw ancestors
had as women in their traditional society, and how that role has
changed through European influence. Her book, “Choctaw
Women in a Chaotic World,” is our May Book of the Month.
Thursday,
June 30 -
Book of the Month: Coyote Wisdom:
What is the tradition of storytelling in
your tribe? Some Native people only tell stories in the winter
time and some stories are told to teach the listeners a moral
lesson. But stories can also heal people. In his book, “Coyote
Wisdom,” Dr.
Lewis Mehl-Madrona shares several stories from various Native
cultures and shows how everyone can learn from them. “Coyote
Wisdom” is our June Book of the Month. Medrona, who is of
Cherokee and Lakota heritage, mixes his formal education in medicine
and psychology with traditional stories to show how healing can
take place in all people.
Wednesday,
July 27 - Book of the Month: “Little Woman Warrior Who Came
Home:”
The tragedy of the Navajo people’s infamous “Long
Walk” is told from a child’s viewpoint in the book,
“Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home.” In 1864 approximately
8,000 Navajos were rounded up and marched to Fort Sumner, more
than 300 miles away. Dr. Evangeline Parsons Yazzie writes about
this historic tragedy in a way young children can understand.
Alongside the English words she writes the story in Navajo. Dr.
Yazzie is Navajo and teaches the language at Northern Arizona
University. The book is named after her two grandmothers as a
tribute to them. “Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home,”
is our July Book of the Month.
Friday,
August 19 - Book
of the Month: Po'pay Leader of the First American Revolution:
In 1680, Po'pay a man from San Juan Pueblo, led a successful
and historic attack against Spanish colonizers. For the first
time ever Pueblo historians are writing their own accounts about
that period of time in their history. The revolution led by Po'pay
changed the area of what later became the state of New Mexico.
For the Hopi, August 10 th is an official tribal holiday called,
"Pueblo Revolt Day." How do the other Pueblos mark this
day in history? Guests include: Joe S. Sando (Jemez Pueblo) Co-Editor,
and Herman Agoyo (San Juan Pueblo) Co-Editor of "Po'pay Leader
of the First American Revolution."
Wednesday,
September 28 - Book
of the Month: Tiller’s Guide To Indian Country:
For
non-Natives it might be hard to imagine that there are more than
550 Federally Recognized tribes in the U.S. Each one has its own
distinct characteristics. For the business minded, the educators,
and just the plain curious, there is a book out that’s just
been updated and has a tremendous amount of information on Indian
nations. “Tiller’s
Guide to Indian Country,” is written by Dr. Veronica
Velarde Tiller. She’s from the Jicarilla Apache Nation in
New Mexico. Dr. Tiller visited each Indian community and gives
detailed information on their economy, government, demographics,
history and culture. “Tiller’s Guide to Indian Country,”
is our September Book of the Month and Dr. Tiller is our guest.
Wednesday,
October 26 - Book
of the Month: Bleed Into Me:
“Bleed Into Me: A Book of Short Stories,” features
a young Indian man’s journey to discover America. The result
is an unsettling understanding of relations between whites and
Natives in the 21st Century. As Stephen
Graham Jones, the author, explains it, the life of an Indian
in modern America is as rich in irony as it is in tradition. He
has written other books including, “The Fast Red Road.”
Jones is Blackfeet and he’s an Assistant Professor of English
at Texas Tech University. His book, “Bleed Into Me,”
is our October Book of the Month.
Wednesday,
November 30 -
Book
of the Month: Beaver Steals Fire:
This tale from the Salish people explains how the animals brought
fire from the sky to the earth. Like many Native stories, it can
only be told in the cold winter months when snow is on the ground.
The story shows how the animals helped prepare the world for human
beings. It also touches on the ideas of teamwork, greed and deception.
“Beaver
Steals Fire,” is our November Book of the Month. Our
guests are Germaine White (Salish and Kootenai), Information and
Education Specialist for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai
Tribe and Tony Incachola (Salish Pend'Oreilles), Director of Salish
Culture Committee.
Wednesday,
December
28 - Book
of the Month: A Scar Upon Our Voice:
Robin Coffee began writing poetry in high school. In 1982 he joined
the Tahlequah Indian Writers Group and began sharing his work
nationally. Through his poetry he shares his experience of raising
children, his concern of loosing his tribal language and personal
freedom. Robin comes from the Cherokee, Creek and Yankton Sioux
people. His new book is called, “A
Scar Upon Our Voice.” It’s a book of poetry published
by the University of New Mexico Press. Robin Coffee’s book,
“A Scar Upon Our Voice,” is our December Book of the
Month.
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