Sovereign Bones: New Native American Writing

New Native American Writing #2

by Eric Gansworth (Editor)

Sovereign Bones is an exploration of indigenous peoples and how they have managed to maintain separate identities, in spite of their assimilation into the broader American culture. Edited by Eric Gansworth, this collection of original writing focuses on the key role that writers and visual artists have played in the struggle of native peoples to retain their individual identities. In personal essays, memoir, and historical reflections, each writer explores the ways in which they arrived at their work and how they have retained a traditional way of life in that work. Taken as a whole, Sovereign Bones is a testimony to the resilience of indigenous cultures and the integral contributions artists make to that survival. Featured authors include: Marijo Moore, Louise Erdrich, Alex Jacobs, Heid Erdrich, Maurice Kenny, Diane Glancy, Jeanette Weaskus, Simon Ortiz.

Genres: Native American

331 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2007

About the author

Gansworth is an enrolled citizen of the Onondaga Nation; however, he grew up in the Tuscarora Nation as a descendant of one of two Onondaga women present among the Tuscarora at the foundation of the nation in the 18th century. Gansworth originally qualified in electroencephalography, considered a profession useful to his nation; however, he went on to study literature and to continue a lifelong interest in painting and drawing.

Gansworth has written five novels, including the award-winning Mending Skins (2005) and Extra Indians (2010). In all his novels, illustrations form an integral part of the reading experience. His most recent novel, If I Ever Get out of Here is his first Young Adult novel, and deals with the 1975 friendship between two boys, one a resident of the Tuscarora Nation, the other living on the nearby Air Force base. In a starred review, Booklist stated that the book succeeded in "sidestepping stereotypes to offer two genuine characters navigating the unlikely intersection of two fully realized worlds."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Ga...

Reviews

[Heid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lot of smarty pants NDNs out there! Poet and novelist Eric Gansworth has complied some of the sharpest writers in Indian Country in this collection of non-fiction prose. The many voices, styles and subjects here have one thing in common: all are written by indigenous people whose thoughts remain free, who remain sovereign to the bone.

GREAT READ!

[Spencer Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection with so much heart and humanity, and a good companion to the previous volume, the name of which escapes me at the moment. I've taught English, Communications and Creative Writing at a tribal college for nine years and continually used pieces from this work. Students, even those who aren't big readers, love it.

[Lasara MSW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of writing. I have laughed and cried. Mostly cried. And I've learned so much.

Well written, hard hitting, important work.