Producers: Governors State University

Part 2 of 2: Linda Hogan (Chickasaw) is a poet and novelist of immense talent. She teaches at the University of Colorado and is an environmental activist. She is a major force in the development of written Native American poetry, a well-respected fiction writer, an environmental essayist, and an award winning dramatist. Topics covered include the many uses of fiction and non-fiction writing.

Part 1 of 2: Thomas King (Cherokee/Greek) has been described as a “Native American Kurt Vonnegut” and a “darkly funny Mark Twain”. He is a former photo-journalist and currently works as a university professor, scriptwriter, novelist, and author of children’s books. Topics covered in theses classes include King’s description of the differences between print and film media, comments on the making of this course’s video, the definition of “meta-discourse”, a discussion on stereotypes, a discussion on the uniquely feminist nature of Mr. King’s work, and the nature of “Tricksters”.

Part 2 of 2: Thomas King (Cherokee/Greek) has been described as a “Native American Kurt Vonnegut” and a “darkly funny Mark Twain”. He is a former photo-journalist and currently works as a university professor, scriptwriter, novelist, and author of children’s books. Topics covered in theses classes include King’s description of the differences between print and film media, comments on the making of this course’s video, the definition of “meta-discourse”, a discussion on stereotypes, a discussion on the uniquely feminist nature of Mr. King’s work, and the nature of “Tricksters”.

Part 1 of 2: Mr. Carr (Laguna/Navajo) is an author and successful filmmaker. Short segments of his documentary Laguna Women are used in these two class sessions. A few weeks after this telecourse was made, Navajo Code Talkers, a National Geographic documentary produced by Lena and Aaron Carr, won an Emmy for best documentary. Other topics include a discussion on the issue of “identity”, a discourse on the impact of using a white protagonist in an Indian novel, and Carr’s point of view with respect to the writer’s “responsibility to build upon what other authors have done.”

Part 2 of 2: Mr. Carr (Laguna/Navajo) is an author and successful filmmaker. Short segments of his documentary Laguna Women are used in these two class sessions. A few weeks after this telecourse was made, Navajo Code Talkers, a National Geographic documentary produced by Lena and Aaron Carr, won an Emmy for best documentary. Other topics include a discussion on the issue of “identity”, a discourse on the impact of using a white protagonist in an Indian novel, and Carr’s point of view with respect to the writer’s “responsibility to build upon what other authors have done.”

Part 1 of 2: Gerald Vizenor is Professor of Native American Studies at the University of California (Berkley). He has been described by LaVonne Brown Ruoff as a “compassionate trickster”, a “formidable warrior in the word wars”, a superb storyteller, and a keen observer of our often hypocritical modern society. Topics covered include further discussion on the “Trickster”, the nature of violence, “shadow words”, Vizenor’s definition of what constitutes a meaningful question, and why an author’s response to a question often takes the form of a story.

Part 2 of 2: Gerald Vizenor is Professor of Native American Studies at the University of California (Berkley). He has been described by LaVonne Brown Ruoff as a “compassionate trickster”, a “formidable warrior in the word wars”, a superb storyteller, and a keen observer of our often hypocritical modern society. Topics covered include further discussion on the “Trickster”, the nature of violence, “shadow words”, Vizenor’s definition of what constitutes a meaningful question, and why an author’s response to a question often takes the form of a story.

Part 2 of 2: Dr. Bell (Cherokee) is a professor at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Intriguing topics covered in her interviews include “An Indian with a pen,” the “The lost generation”, and the power of oral storytelling and its relationship to Native American writing.

Joy Harjo (Muskogee Creek) is a poet, scriptwriter, editor, filmmaker, and musician. She also holds the position of Professor of Literature at the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque). Topics of discussion include the relationship between poetry and oral traditions, urban Indian poetry, and the art of teaching poetry.

Luci Tapahonso (Navajo) is a professor at the University of Kansas (Lawrence) and a very well-respected poet in her own right. Topics covered in this discussion include the matriarchal structure of Navajo culture, the nature of American Indian poetry, and the ways in which Navajo readers – both children and adults – can feel more empowered through literature targeted to them.