University News

WIU Celebrates Native American Heritage at Malpass Library

October 23, 2008


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MACOMB, IL -- This November Americans will celebrate America by exercising their right to vote, but November in the U.S. will also provide the opportunity to commemorate the history and legacy of Native Americans through Native American Heritage Month.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Western Illinois University Libraries, WIU's English and journalism department and the Native American Indian Organization are sponsoring two events to be held at the Leslie F. Malpass Library.

Native American historian Stephen Warren will present "Chopping Wood: Being and Becoming Shawnee in a Global Age" at 3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6 in Malpass 180. Warren is a professor of history at Augustana College in Rock Island (IL), author of " The Shawnees and Their Neighbors, 1795-1870" and serves as a historical consultant for the Miami and Absentee Shawnee tribes.

At 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7 in Malpass 180, Erika Wurth, assistant professor in WIU's English and journalism department, will read selections from her novel "Crazy Horse's Girlfriend." Wurth, who is of Chickasaw, Apache and Cherokee descent, writes fiction and poetry. Her first book of poems "Indian Trains" was published by West End Press in 2007.

Both events are open free to the public. For more information, contact Penny Kelsey, assistant professor in WIU's English and journalism department, at (309) 298-1111 or P-Kelsey@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing