tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post9001792807672279014..comments2023-06-01T05:52:44.931-04:00Comments on CBC Diversity: Diversity 101: Not Injun JoeCBC Diversity Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02210096489191130439noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-9354107360673108232013-02-05T13:39:23.252-05:002013-02-05T13:39:23.252-05:005 February 2013. Good morning. I read the articl...5 February 2013. Good morning. I read the article entitled Diversity 101: "Not Injun Joe". From what I read and from what I have told by my family grwoing up, Indian stereotyping has been going on for many more years than I have been alive. I come from a very mixed ethnic background to include: the Chumash, Yaqui and Commanche, English, Dutch, German, Spain, and French. Although I am Caucasian, I am very proud of my Indian Heritage. My grandmother told me that she remembers growing up that she recalled seeing some instances where some family members had been drinking, but they were not drunk all the time as the stereotype indicates. We need to better educate ourselves if we are to break the stereotyping of the Native American Indians. Chuck Horton 5 February 2013Chuck Hortonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-54302260546642789632013-01-28T14:36:10.912-05:002013-01-28T14:36:10.912-05:00I hadn't though of the change in literature po...I hadn't though of the change in literature popular amongst youths as a factor in stereotyping. Very interesting point of view. I will go forward with a fresh perspective in mind while reading some of my favorite books. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-46070352946251511702013-01-17T21:17:19.395-05:002013-01-17T21:17:19.395-05:00Thank you. We need more authors with this quiet co...Thank you. We need more authors with this quiet courage and integrity.Menahahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02147525878048052671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-1864485380047126112013-01-17T11:27:38.572-05:002013-01-17T11:27:38.572-05:00And he writes fantasy, too! :)And he writes fantasy, too! :)Stacy Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10368249394199905486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-76119213140529793592013-01-16T07:33:56.645-05:002013-01-16T07:33:56.645-05:00Thanks, Joe, for this piece. And thanks, CBC, for ...Thanks, Joe, for this piece. And thanks, CBC, for publishing it. Joe obviously had the will and family/community support to push back and move past the negative experiences of his youth. I had it, too. But the low graduation rates of Native students tell us that far too many Native children are choosing to drop out, or, are pushed out, or just give up. <br /><br />Imagine, for a moment, what a difference it would make if Native culture wasn't misrepresented or vilified in the books children are asked to read, and in the curriculum they're given. Imagine a curriculum, for example, built on Joe's books! They affirm Native ways of life, and inform the reader, too, in beautiful ways. <br /><br />In a chapter I wrote some years ago, I opened with Joe's work. Most readers know him because of his children's books, but he is far more than that. Here's what I wrote about Joe:<br /><br />If asked to name a Native American (or American Indian) author of children’s books, Joseph Bruchac, of the Abenaki tribe, is likely to be at the top of the list. Readers should note Bruchac’s tribe (Abenaki); Native Americans prefer to be identified by a specific tribe rather than Native American or American Indian when possible. Bruchac has written numerous children’s books about Native Americans. <br /><br />His work spans several genres: The Story of the Milky Way (Dial, 1995) is traditional literature, The Heart of a Chief (Dial, 1998) is contemporary realistic fiction, Arrow Over the Door (Dial, 1998) is historical fiction, Crazy Horse’s Vision (Lee & Low, 2000) is biography, and Bowman’s Store (Lee & Low, 2000) is his autobiography. <br /><br />What is not well known in the field of children’s literature is Bruchac’s role in mentoring aspiring Native authors. Indeed, he is recognized as the single most important force in the nation in publishing and promoting the work of emerging Native American writers (Lerner, 1996). Bruchac was instrumental in establishing the Returning the Gift festival in 1992. Held in Norman, Oklahoma, it was conceived as a gathering at which Native authors could share their work and talk with and/or mentor aspiring Native American authors. It evolved into an annual Returning the Gift festival and the formation of several organizations whose goals are to publish the work of Native authors and provide beginning authors with mentors. Native American authors who serve as mentors include Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo) whose Ceremony is widely used in high school classrooms, and Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur d’Alene). Also serving as a mentor is Gayle Ross (Cherokee), known for her picture book retellings of traditional literature and oral storytelling, and of course, Bruchac himself. <br /><br />In addition to the festival, Bruchac established the Greenfield Review Press, a small publishing house devoted to publication of Native authors. Without question, Bruchac has been significant, not only for his own writing, but also for his efforts to mentor and promote the work of other Native authors.Debbie Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-1495353347347838912013-01-15T22:28:03.709-05:002013-01-15T22:28:03.709-05:00Of everything you've said here, I particularly...Of everything you've said here, I particularly appreciate this: "It takes time to do it right." <br /><br />I think many of the errors out there are more due to careless rushing than ill-will. And it's a struggle to get the time to devote to a well thought out and thoroughly researched book. <br /><br />Thanks!Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-54740852624408108602013-01-15T10:55:11.553-05:002013-01-15T10:55:11.553-05:00This was nice succinct analysis of what is wrong w...This was nice succinct analysis of what is wrong with many portrayals of Amerindian people in fiction, as well as offering some good advice for writers who want to do their Native characters justice. Thanks for posting this. S.B. Stewart-Lainghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03134867428280114360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-66747334994410323852013-01-15T00:36:46.322-05:002013-01-15T00:36:46.322-05:00Your comments are important for all of us to hear,...Your comments are important for all of us to hear, especially those who develop curriculum and choose books for young people. Thank you for your articulate discussion regarding the need to support and celebrate literature that is free of stereotypes and misinformation. Nancy Bo FloodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-32421521341111641052013-01-14T18:46:44.093-05:002013-01-14T18:46:44.093-05:00Mr. Bruchac, I always appreciate your books and yo...Mr. Bruchac, I always appreciate your books and your talks and your connection and articulation about the cultural confusion you experienced. It's hard to have a foot in two worlds, and this resonates in many ways even with ideas of African American cultural confusion.<br /><br />Thank you for the commentary and list of resources!<br />tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214531909685193256.post-87787139254150262552013-01-14T14:53:55.661-05:002013-01-14T14:53:55.661-05:00Excellent. Thank you so much for this perspective....Excellent. Thank you so much for this perspective.A Journey Illustratedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05139181573205807522noreply@blogger.com