Joseph BruchacNative American Author | Storyteller | Musician

Presented byLori Vanden Berghe

“The central themes in my work are simple ones

- that we have to listen to each other and to the

earth, that we have to respect each other and

the earth, that we never know anyone until we

know what they have in their heart.”

―Joseph Bruchac

background•Ancestry is English, Slovak, and Abenaki Indian from upstate New York•Works to preserve Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills•Education

▫B.A. from Cornell,▫ M.A.  in Literature and Creative Writing

from Syracuse▫Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the

Union Institute of Ohio.•Prolific writer: first book published in 1975

awards

•Cherokee Nation Prose Award•Hope S. Dean Award for Notable

Achievement in Children’s Literature•2005 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award•1999 Lifetime Achievement Award from the

Native Writers Circle of the Americas•1998 Writer of the Year Award from the

Native Writers Circle of the Americas•1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the

Native Writers Circle of the Americas•1995 Knickerbocker Award

2000 Parents Choice Gold Award

2001 Parents Guide to Children's Media Award

1999 Jane

Addams Children

’s Book Award

1997 Paterson Award

Scientific American

Children’s Book Award

Horn Book

Honor and

Boston Globe Book

Award 1996

awards

“To this day, my way of looking at life and the writing I do always is influenced in one way or another by my abiding respect for the natural world and my gratitude for all that it has given and continues to give.”

―Joseph Bruchac

Storyteller

Listen to Author and storyteller Joseph Bruchac explaining the origin and significance of the flute and the drum to Native American culture.

teacher resources

children’s literature

One thing can be said about Bruchac’s collection of writing, he appeals to all ages. His children’s books bring Native American explanations to natural phenomena .

historical fiction•Piques student

interest•Artfully told and

incorporates history seamlessly

•Protagonists face realistic, complex issues

•Stereotypes avoided

•Authentic settings

fantasy

FromNative AmericatoSlovakia

Bruchac departs from Native American territory and writes a humorous fantasy story with Prince Rashko as his protagonist.

poetry

“…all of us need to try to be kinder and more open, that small acts of kindness open the doors of the spirit and connect us to a deep reservoir of energy--an energy often expressed within poetry.”

Website sources• “A Chat With Joseph Bruchac.” Wordsmith.org.

10 Jan. 2001. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.• “Joseph Bruchac.” JosephBruchac. Web. 15 Oct.

2011.• “Joseph Bruchac.” Scholastic. 2011. Web. 31 Oct.

2011.• “Joseph Bruchac.” YouTube. 2010. Web. 15 Nov.

2011.• Talman, Mark. “Joseph Bruchac.”

Poetry.us.com. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.• West, Gordon. “Joseph Bruchac: From Native

America to Slovakia.” Kirkus Reviews. 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.