Poetry events in July

Wednesday, July 13, 2 – 3:30 pm

Reading Circle and Discussion: The Smokehouse Boys

We are excited that Shaunna Oteka McCovey (Yurok) is joining us for our summer Reading Circle to discuss her book of poems, The Smokehouse Boys. Several of her poems are featured in the current exhibit, Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home: Art and Poetry from Native California, in the Mashantucket Gallery. Shaunna grew up on the Yurok Reservation in northern California and started writing poetry when she was six. In 2010, Humboldt State University named her a Distinguished Alumni for her work as an author, attorney, and advocate. Purchase The Smokehouse Boys from the Museum gift shop or borrow a copy from the Research Library. Limited to 20 participants, ages 16 and older. In the Research Library. Call (860) 396-6897 by July 9 to register. FREE



Thursday, July 14, 2 – 3:30 pm

Shaunna Oteka McCovey: Poetry from Native California

Shaunna Oteka McCovey (Yurok) reads from her book of poetry, The Smokehouse Boys; featured in Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home: Art and Poetry from Native California. She writes about the land and people of northwestern California and her strong family relationships and close ties to Native California. Old ways blend with today’s realities in the poems. From Food Stamps to Blue-Eyed Indian Boy, her poetry connects the past with the present and explores the relationships between generations. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear poetry read aloud by the author. Ms. McCovey signs copies of her book in the Museum gift shop after the reading in the Fleet Room. Free with Museum admissions, free to Museum members.

Tim Tingle appearing at Connecticut College

Choctaw storyteller and author Tim Tingle is appearing at the 30th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival & Conference, held from April 29 – May 1, 2011, at Connecticut College in New London, CT. He is a wonderful storyteller who engages everyone from the moment he opens his mouth, so this is a great opportunity to hear him. Please visit www.connstorycenter.org/festival.htm for more information.

In 2007, Tim Tingle and Cherokee artist Jeanne Rorex Bridges visited the Museum to discuss how they worked together in creating their multi-award winning book, Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom. Tim returned the next summer to tell stories during the Museum’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. His new book, Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light, is illustrated by Karen Clarkson (Choctaw) and has been named a 2011 Notable Children’s Book by the American Library Association. It’s one of his family’s stories about why they say “saltypie” when dealing with trouble, and how they have endured and supported each other through hard times. In the afterword, Tim Tingle helps readers understand about stereotypes and gives suggestions on how to educate children about American Indians in today’s world.

Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light, published in 2010 by Cinco Puntos Press.

How to say Merry Christmas

HOW TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS! in some Native languages, from American Indian Library Association Listserv, December 2009

ALUET: Kamgan Ukudigaa
APALACHICOLA CREEK: Nettv-Cako-Rakko
ALUTIIQ ALASKA: Spraasnikam! [Happy Holidays]
WESTERN APACHE: Gozhqq Keshmish
AYMARA: Sooma Nawira-ra
BLACKFOOT: I'Taamomohkatoyiiksistsikomi
CENTRAL AHTNA: C'ehwggelnen Dzaen
CHEROKEE: Danistayohihv &Aliheli'sdi Itse Udetiyvasadisv
CHEYENNE: Hoesenestotse & Aa'eEmona'e
CHOCTAW: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
CREE: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
CREEK: Afvcke Nettvcakorakko
DINE/NAVAJO: Ya'at'eeh Keshmish
GITKSAN: Hisgusgitxwsim Ha'niisgats Christ ganhl Ama Sii K'uuhl!
GUARAYU: Imboeteipri tasecoi Tupa i vave!
GWICH'IN: Drin tsal zhit shoh ohlii & Drin Choo zhit zhoh ohli
HAWAIIAN: Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
INUPIAQ: annaurri Aniruq & Paglaun Ukiutchiaq
INUPIATUN: Quvianaq Agaayuniqpak
INUPIK: Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
IROQUOIS: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson Homungradon Nagwutut & Ojenyunyat Osrasay
KAQCHIKEL: Dios Tik'ujie' Avik'in
KOYUKON: Denaahto' Hoolaanh Dedzaanh Sodeelts'eeyh
KUTCHIN: Drin Tsal Neenjit Goozu'
LAKOTA: Wanikiya Tonpi Wowiyuskin & Omaka Teca Oiyokipi
LUISENO (California): Héngchish Chamná' Pochóx'ivo
MAYA/YUCATECO: Utzul Mank'inal
METIS/MICHIF Gayayr Nwel
OJIBWE (CHIPPEWA) - Niibaa' Anami'egiizhigad & Aabita Biboo
ONEIDA: Wanto'wan Amp; Hoyan
NASKAPI: Miywaaitaakun Mikusaanor
Q'ANJOB'AL: Chi Woche Swatx'ilal Hak'ul Yet Jun Yalji Komami'
QUECHUA: Sumaj Kausay Kachun Navidad Ch'sisipi & Mosoi Watapi Sumaj Kausay Kachun
RETVARA: Mamaka Wejejer??ka
SALCHA Dzeen Chox Teedle 'Aay Nayilkaa
SENECA: A:O'-E:Sad Yos-Ha:-Se:'
TANAINA: Natukda Nuuphaa
TEWA: Hihchandi N??uphaa
TLINGIT: - Xristos Khuwdziti Kax Sh Kaxtoolxetl
TUTCHONE/NORTHERN: T'ohudinch'i Hulin Dzenu & Eyum Nan Ek'an Nenatth'at Danji Te Yesohuthin Ch'e Hadaatle
YUPIK ESKIMO, ALASKA: Alussistuaqegtaarmek Piamceci!
YUPIK/SIBERIAN: Quyanalghii Kuusma & Quyangalleq Nutaghamun Aymiqulleq

Christmas books in the Children's Library

Winter is a time of giving and sharing, and a time for telling stories. Here are some children’s books about Christmas celebrations among Native people. The books include personal memories of making baseball bats from Christmas trees to learning that sharing and being together are more important than presents.


Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Kusugak. Annick Press, 1990

Christmas at Wapos Bay by Jordan Wheeler. Coteau Books, 2005

Circle of Wonder: A Native American Christmas Story by N. Scott Momaday. Univ. of New Mexico, 1999

Coyote Christmas: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson. Abrams, 2007

A Coyote Solstice Tale by Thomas King. Groundwood, 2009

The Crying Christmas Tree by Allan Crow. Pemmican Publications, 1989

Red Parka Mary by Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications, 1996

Reading Circles at the Research Library

Poet and Professor of English Ron Welburn (Gingaskin & Assateague/Cherokee/African American) led a thoughtful and engaging discussion of Sherman Alexie's novel The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian recently in the Research Library reading room.





For our next reading circle, which will be held on Saturday January 15, we will be discussing When Beaver Was Very Great, a collection of traditional stories and recent writings by Ojibwe elder storyteller Anne M. Dunn. The short pieces range from traditional stories to nature writing to contemporary stories of peace, justice, and environmental concerns. Trudie Lamb Richmond (Schaghticoke), storyteller and accomplished educator, will lead participants in a discussion on the telling of stories using Anne Dunn’s pieces as a guide. Participants may borrow copies of the book from the Research Library or purchase one in the Museum gift shop. Limited to 20 participants, ages 16 and older. Call (860) 396-6897 by Jan. 7 to register. Free. Snow date is Jan. 22.

Sherman Alexie Reading Circle Oct. 30

On Saturday October, 30 from 2-3:30 pm, a group discussion of the National Book Award winning novel The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian will be held in the Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Library. Written by Sherman Alexie (Spokane), the book is the semiautobiographical story of Arnold Spirit who leaves his reservation to attend high school in a neighboring town. The discussion will be led by Ron Welburn (Gingaskin & Assateague/Cherokee/African American), poet and Professor of English at Umass Amherst. Copies of the book may be borrowed from the Research Library and are available for purchase at the Museum gift shop. The discussion will be limited to 20 participants, age 16 and older. Please call the reference desk at 860-396-6897 by October 23 to register. Participation is free.

Research Library: New Books, May 2010

Boyes-Watson, Carolyn. Peacemaking Circles & Urban Youth: Bringing Justice Home. St. Paul: Living Justice Press, 2008.

Butler, Monica Lynette. “Check Your Local Listings: Indigenous Representation in Television.” PhD diss., Arizona State University, 2008.

Cox, James H. Muting White Noise. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006.

Geniusz, Wendy Makoons. Our Knowledge is not Primitive: Decolonizing Botanical Anishinaabe Teachings. Syracuse: University of Syracuse Press, 2009.

Grant-Costa, Paul. "The Last Indian War in New England : the Mohegan Indians v. the Governour and Company of the Colony of Connecticut, 1703-1774." PhD diss., Yale University, 2008.

Krupt, Arnold. All That Remains: Varieties of Indigenous Expression. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2009.

May, Karl. Winnetou. New York: Continuum, 2005.

Mundell, Kathleen. North By Northeast: Wabanki, Akwesasne Mohawk, and Tuscarora Traditional Arts. Gardiner, Maine: Tilbury House, 2008.

Munson, Terence E. “Native American Leadership Theory: A Tribal Perspective.” PhD diss., Capella University, 2007.

Vinzant, John H. The Supreme Court’s Role in American Indian Policy. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2009.

Wonderley, Anthony. At the Font of the Marvelous: Exploring Oral Narrative and Mythic Imagery of the Iroquois and Their Neighbors. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2009.