Jan. 19, 2023  Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet) will receive the Tulsa Library Trust’s “Festival of Words Writers Award” March 4, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., in Connor’s Cove at Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St. A book signing will follow. This event is free and open to the public.

   Stephen Graham Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly 30 horror and sci-fi novels and collections including The Only Good Indians, Don’t Fear the Reaper, My Heart Is a Chainsaw, Mapping the Interior and Mongrels. His new comic-book series Earthdivers, launching in October 2022 by IDW, is set in an apocalyptic near future where four Indigenous survivors embark on a bloody, one-way mission to save the world by traveling back in time to kill Christopher Columbus and prevent the creation of America.

   Jones has received numerous awards and honors including the Ray Bradbury Award from the Los Angeles Times, the Bram Stoker Award, Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction and the Alex Award from American Library Association.

   He is the Ivena Baldwin professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder and a member of the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana. He lives in Boulder, Colo.

   Inaugurated in 2001, the American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award recognizes written contributions of outstanding American Indian authors, poets, journalists, film and stage scriptwriters. It is the first and only award given by a public library to honor an American Indian writer. The award is given in odd-numbered years. Recipients receive a $10,000 cash prize, provided by the Tulsa Library Trust and the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation.

   Previous winners include: 2001, Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek); 2003, Vine DeLoria Jr. (Standing Rock Sioux); 2005, Leslie Marmon-Silko (Laguna Pueblo); 2007, Carter Revard (Osage); 2011, LeAnne Howe (Choctaw); 2013, Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee Creek); 2015, Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki); 2017, Tim Tingle (Choctaw); 2019, Laura Tohe (Diné, Tsénahabiłnii, Sleepy Rock People clan, and born for the Tódich’inii, Bitter Water clan) and 2021, Tommy Orange (Cheyenne/Arapaho).

   Throughout March, TCCL’s American Indian Resource Center will present programming featuring cultural, educational and informational resources highlighting American Indian culture. Enjoy these free programs:

Yuchi Language Class

March 6, 20, 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. - Zarrow Regional Library, South Meeting Room

Any and all skill levels are welcome to join this language revitalization class, led by Yuchi language instructor Brent Deo from the zOyaha School of Language.  

Kiowa Language Class

March 7, 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, https://events.tulsalibrary.org/events. Registration closes 24 hours before class.

Learn the beautiful language of the Kiowa people. This class is taught by the Kiowa Language & Culture Revitalization Program of the Kiowa Tribe. Registration is required. Registration closes 24 hours before class. For all ages.

Take and Make: 3D Turtle Kits

March 6-31 or as long as kits last! Maxwell Park Library, 1313 N. Canton

The turtle bounces! The turtle can stick its head in and out of its shell! Enjoy a creative 3D Maker Space AIRC turtle craft kit. Stop by and pick one up from March 6-31 or as long as kits last!

Make and Take: Cherokee Pottery 

March 14, 2 p.m. – Judy Z. Kishner Library, 10150 N. Cincinnati Ave. E., Sperry 

Join Cherokee potter Crystal Hanna for native stories and a hands-on workshop. Materials provided. Class size is limited. Registration is required. Please call 918-549-7323 to reserve your spot.

Dancing Eagles

March 15, 3:30 p.m. - Broken Arrow Library, 300 W. Broadway

The Pahsetopah’s will perform spectacular Native American dances and traditional storytelling. This entertaining and educational performance will include specialty, traditional and social dances. Audience participation is encouraged.

Make and Take: Basket Making I

March 16, 10:30 a.m. - Charles Page Library, 551 E. Fourth St., Sand Springs

Join Choogie Kingfisher to learn the art of making a single-walled Cherokee basket. This program is for ages 3rd grade and up, younger participants will need parent supervision. Class size is limited. Registration is required. Please call 918-549-7323 to reserve your spot.

Talking with Hands with Mike Pahsetopah

March 16, 2 p.m., Brookside Library, 1207 E. 45th Place

Learn the endangered sign language that tribes used to communicate with other tribes in the 1800’s.

Storytelling with Will Hill: Omulget!

March 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m. - Kendall-Whittier Library, 21 S. Lewis

Stories of how the animals work together. All ages welcome. 

Make and Take: Pony Bead Creations 

March 18, 2 p.m. - Schusterman-Benson Library, 3333 E. 32nd Place

Join Stella Foster as she brings pony beads to life with fun and colorful crafts! Registration required. Please register at https://events.tulsalibrary.org/events. Registration closes 24 hours ahead of class.

Make and Take: Beaded Ornament

March 25, 12-3 p.m. - Zarrow Regional Library, South Meeting Room, 2224 W. 51st St.

Join Dode Barnett in this 3-hour class as she teaches how to make 2 beaded Christmas tree ornaments; a mini and regular sized ornament. It’s a fun, contemporary application of a traditional Mvskoke beading technique. Materials provided. Class size limited. Register online at https://events.tulsalibrary.org/events. Registration closes 24 hours before class.

Native Culture Arts: Comanche Bow and Arrows with Willie Pekah

YouTube

Learn about Willie Pekah’s journey to bow and arrow making. Beginning Monday, March 6 at 8 a.m. Watch on TCCL’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/TulsaLibrary.

Native Culture Arts: Cooking Traditional Foods with Carol Tiger

YouTube

Join Carol Tiger as she demonstrates how to make fried pork and wild onions! Beginning Monday, March 6 at 8 a.m. Watch on TCCL’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/TulsaLibrary.

 

   For more information on library programming, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit the library’s website, www.tulsalibrary.org.

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