This fall, humanities faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates are contributing to the constellation of events surrounding the book project, including lectures, films, paper presentations, panel discussions and art exhibits, and some are incorporating the text into their courses. The coming week alone will see three related events addressing issues of Native American education and environmental justice.
...The book project was established after September 11, 2001 to promote dialogue and build community by encouraging members of the campus and local communities to read the same book and attend related events and discussions. “The books serve as vehicles to encourage conversations that would not happen otherwise,” said Mikael Villalobos, “The book project brings people together. Events and reading groups happen not only on campus but also across surrounding communities.”
...Native American Studies instructor and PhD student Cutcha Risling Baldy (Hupa, Yurok, Karuk) has assigned Alexie’s book to students in her Introduction to Native American Literatures course. She encourages her students to participate in book project events in addition to reading the text with the class. “The book project brings the author to life and provides a way for students to interact with literature off its pedestal, outside the classroom,” said Risling Baldy.
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