The Mohegan Medicine Woman writes speculative fiction. How cool is that? Although still quite young, and incredibly busy with other work, Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel has published several books, some of them out of print and hard to get (sound familiar?): a short tribal history, The Lasting of the Mohegans (1995); a history of her family…Read More
Issues/Articles
Carol Dana (Red Hawk), Penobscot Poet
A book I’ve loved for years is When No One Is Looking, by Carol Dana (Penobscot), writing under the name Red Hawk/pipikwass. My friend Margo Lukens, who teaches Wabanaki literature at the University of Maine up at Orono, turned me on to it. This beautiful little chapbook was first published in 1989 by a tiny…Read More
2 new books from Alice Azure (Mi’kmaq)
2011 has been a banner year for Alice Azure. She published her second book of poetry, Games of Transformation; and a memoir, Along Came a Spider. The memoir appears thanks to Joseph and Jesse Bruchac’s Bowman Books imprint, which I’ve blogged about before. Azure has had a complicated life, full of difficulty and success: at…Read More
Abenaki poet Cheryl Savageau
One of the most accomplished indigenous poets describing New Hampshire is surely Cheryl Savageau. She has been writing about her Abenaki and French heritage for years, to substantial critical and academic acclaim (including a Pulitzer prize nomination). Her first book, Home Country (1992), is unfortunately out of print now, though you can still find used…Read More
Mapping Native New Hampshire
Blogging, I’ve found, can be highly addictive, and can lead you straight into other time-consuming digital hobbies. I’m becoming interested in collaborative mapping. How would it change the way people look at, say, a “white” (not!) state like New Hampshire, if a group of people INDIGENIZED this space. . .? I would be very interested…Read More
Abenaki historian Marge Bruchac speaking July 23
One Abenaki writer who has taught me a lot over the years is Marge Bruchac. She’ll be giving a talk next Saturday, July 23, 7 pm, at the Hopkinton Historical Society on “The Sadoques Family of Keene, NH: Abenaki Artisans and Entrepreneurs.” I’ve heard Marge speak several times, and she’s always riveting; she is absolutely…Read More
Passamaquoddy author/historian Donald Soctomah
There was a nice article in the Portland Press Herald recently that reminded me of Donald Soctomah’s beautiful book, Remember Me: Tomah Joseph’s Gift to Franklin Roosevelt. It’s a children’s book, so I won’t do it the kind of justice that Debbie Reese does to American-Indian-related children’s literature on her blog; but I still wanted…Read More
Guest Blogger Renee Poisson reviews Donna Loring’s book
We need to face the fact that this country was built on the bodies of Indian people—indeed, there was a holocaust on these shores. Once we know our country’s history, we can work to improve policy and practice. Then and only then will we be capable of empathy with other countries and cultures. Then and…Read More
Another new book: this one by Wampanoag elder Joan Tavares Avant (Granny Squannit)
Wampanoag people are indefatigable tribal historians; they’ve published a whole library of books chronicling their perspective on events in their communities on Mashpee (Cape Cod) and Aquinnah (Martha’s Vineyard). A short list would include these titles, most of which are unfortunately out of print: Amelia Bingham’s Mashpee: Land of the Wampanoags (1970); Helen Attaquin, A…Read More
Larry Spotted Crow Mann (Nipmuc) book launch, June 11
Next Saturday, June 11, in Webster, Mass, Larry Spotted Crow Mann will be launching his first book, Tales from the Whispering Basket. This collection of short stories and poetry is informed by his Nipmuc experience, imagination, and knowledge of tribal history. For details, see his website. I asked Larry if he’d be willing to chat…Read More
Joseph Bruchac and Bowman Books
A good place to start looking for New England Native American writing is through Joseph Bruchac’s Native American authors catalog. An Abenaki from upstate New York, Bruchac’s own output is impressive enough: he has written over 100 books—novels, poetry, and children’s books for all age groups. His memoir, Bowman’s Store, is a must-read for anyone…Read More
Welcome
Welcome to my “Indigenous New England Literature” blog. Following Native American writers from this region has become something of an obsession for me, ever since the late 1990s, when I started teaching Native American literature at universities in Maine and New Hampshire. I wanted to include local writers in my courses, but I ran into…Read More
