ASAIL Notes
Vol.VII, No.2 June 1989
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ASAIL Notes
is published by the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures. Material for submission for fall 1990 issue should be sent to:
Susan Scarberry-Garcia
Department of English
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO 81301
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FROM THE EDITOR
As I write this word to you, the sun is setting over the juniper and sage-covered foothills of the San Juans of
southwestern Colorado. Two nights ago the crickets returned, and my three-year-old daughter asked, "What is that
sound in the sky?" So, as summer approaches and it's time to travel, it's also appropriate to mail out our second
newsletter. This issue of ASAIL Notes was assembled and produced at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, with
financial support from the English Department.
John Purdy will be returning to the States this summer from Der Universität Mannheim, West Germany. I'm sure
he'll be anxious to resume editorship of ASAIL Notes, especially since there is so much interesting correspondence
associated with the job. I want to extend a personal thanks to those of you who took time out from your busy
schedules to send important newsworthy items for our members. Also, again thanks to LaVonne Ruoff and Helen
Jaskowski who keep us all abreast of the latest events and developments in the field of American Indian literary study.
This year -- 1990 -- promises to be a peak year for new creative and scholarly publications that enlarge the scope
of our studies. As we move toward fall, we need to consider the possible "merger" of ASAIL Notes and SAIL. See the
"Modern Language Association" section of this newsletter for details and direct any correspondence on this subject to:
Franchot Ballinger
ASAIL President
University of Cincinnati
Mail Location 205
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
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Thanks to Sean Cridland and to Dr. Red Bird of Fort Lewis College for assisting with this issue. It has been my
pleasure to guest-edit the Notes. Best wishes for a lovely summer and for safe travels. Thank you all.
Susan Scarberry-García
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MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION
At our annual ASAIL business meeting at the Modern Language Association convention in Washington, D.C. on
December 29, 1989, Jim Ruppert presided as our out-going President. He ran a thoughtful, tightly-organized meeting
that dealt with a number of pressing issues for our organization. After congratulating Helen Jaskowski for her fine job
of publishing Volume 1 of our journal SAIL, Ruppert raised the question as to whether or not we should, in 1991,
establish a lump-sum fee that would entitle a subscriber to membership in ASAIL and to both the SAIL journal and
ASAIL Notes, the newsletter. This issue will be discussed further at our December 1990 meeting in conjunction with
MLA, in Chicago. Jim Ruppert also raised the question: "Is there life for ASAIL beyond MLA?" He would like to see
us develop our own conference -- perhaps in a rural setting -- in a few years or less.
Franchot Ballinger, our newly-elected President for two years, spoke and said that he would spearhead an effort
to rewrite the ASAIL Charter based on documents in Andy Wiget's possession and on informally gathered oral
histories of ASAIL.
Andrea Lerner was elected Vice-President for a one-year term and Elizabeth McDade-Nelson was elected
Secretary-Treasurer. Our ASAIL-sponsored programs "Reconstructive Encounters: American Indian Literatures and
American Classics" and "Encounters in the Oral Tradition: Native American Stories of Cultural Contact" were good
solid sessions. And the Discussion Group on American Indian Literature presented fine "Readings by Emerging
American Indian Poets." Among those reading were Elizabeth Woody, Gail Tremblay, and Joe Dale Tate. Joy Harjo
also read at MLA.
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SAIL JOURNAL
-- SAIL Subscriptions Renewal --
SAIL editor Helen Jaskowski wants to remind us that several 1989 subscribers have not renewed for 1990.
SAIL Vo.2, No. 1 is now out; Vol.2, No.2 "Poetry and Fiction" is being printed.
Renew now to make sure you receive all copies of Vol.2. Mail check for $8 ($12 out- side U.S.) to:
Robert Nelson
Box 112
University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia 23173
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* On three consecutive days in late March 1990, N. Scott Momaday and Kenneth Roemer presented a series of readings and lectures at the University of Central Florida for the symposium: "Native Writers in American Lit- erature," sponsored, in part, by the Florida Endowment for the Humanities.
* At the 1990 MELUS Conference held this year April 20-21 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, ASAIL members A. LaVonne Brown Ruoff, Gretchen Bataille, Amy Ling, Arnold Krupat, Paul Lauter, Helen Jaskowski, Kay Sands, Susan Scarberry-Garcia and Kate Vangen participated. LaVonne Ruoff organized and directed the conference.
* Victor Golla of Humboldt State University is continuing to exchange newsletters with us. His publication of the
Society for the Study Indigenous Languages of the Americas (SSILA) announces two summer conferences of special
interest.
** The University of Arizona, Tucson, will host the 12th annual American Indian Language {3} Development
Institute, June 4-29, 1990. "A program for teachers, teacher aides and parents of American Indian youth, AILDI
provides training in American Indian linguistics, bilingual-bicultural teaching strategies, and culture-based materials
development." institute faculty and speakers include Ofelia Zepeda, Joy Harjo, Leanne Hinton, Felipe Molina, Larry
Evers and Luci Tapahonso. Call Ofelia Zepeda at (602) 621-7108 for further information.
** Arizona State University, in Tempe, will offer an institute an American Indian language, literature, culture
and history -- "Renewing Traditions Through the Humanities -- June 4-22, 1990. "The purpose of the institute is to
provide training to teachers, parents, and community members in tribal language develop- ment, tribal language
policy and planning, language and revitalization, history and oral literature, materials in tribal languages, materials for
the teaching and learning of history and culture, Native American literature and writing." Faculty will include Paul
Platero, Luci Tapahonso, Ramson Lomatewama and Gary Nabhan. Contact Betsy Brandt (602) 965-5992 for further
information.
* Robert Black, Co-Editor of American Indian Quarterly is pleased to announce the publication of a special 221
page issue on California Indians. "The theme of this issue is the re-assertion of tribal identity, personal identity and
sovereignty of native California Indians. The sixteen articles provide a broad historical, legal and cultural perspective
of California Indians, based on recent research." Copies are available for $20 each from:
American Indian Quarterly
University of California
3415 Dwinelle Hall
Berkeley, California 94720 3
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* Jeannette Armstrong is director of Penticton, British Columbia's En'owkin International School of Writing, the
first Canadian credit-granting, creative writing school run by and for native people. The Okanagan Nation is operating
the school in conjunction with Okanagan College and the University of Victoria. Native writers Tom King and Joy
Harjo are on the school's steering committee.
* Alanna K. Brown's article "Legacy Profile: Mourning Dove (Humishuma) 1888-1936" was published by Legacy, A Journal of Nineteenth Century American Women Writers, 6.1, Spring 1989. "Mourning Dove's Canadian Recovery Years, 1917-1919," also by Brown, will be published June 1990 by Canadian Literature in a special volume featuring Indian writers.
SPECIAL REQUEST
The Native American Scholarship Fund has been established "to assist and encourage qualified American
Indians in pursuing graduate education in the field of American archaeology. Brian Swann of the executive committee
of "The Society for American Archaeology" requests that scholars writing about American themes consider donating
a portion of their royalties to the Native American Scholarship Fund. Contact:
David Hurst Thomas
Department of Anthropology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th St.
New York, N.Y. 10024
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JOB OPENING
Assistant Professor English/Indian Studies: Fall 1990. Ph.D. desired, ABD or MA with teaching experience
acceptable. Publications desired. Background in Indian Studies, American literature and writing courses desired. Term
contract, renewable. Review will begin on May 1, 1990. Position opened until filled. Contact:
Robert B. Olafson, Chair, English, MS#25 &
Cecil Jose, Director, Indian Studies,
MS#183 Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington 99004 AA/EOE
BOOKS
Recently Published
* In Mad Love and War. Joy Harjo. Wesleyan University Press, 1990. A new collection of poetry.
* Medicine River. Tom King. Penguin or Canada, 1990. Will be released Fall 1990 in U.S.
* Interior Landscapes: Autobiographica Myths and Metaphors. Gerald Vizenor. University of Minnesota Press, 1990.
* Kuna Ways of Speaking: An Ethnographic Perspective. Joel Sherzer. University of Texas Press, 1990.
* Mourning Dove: A Salish Autobiograpy. Jay Miller, ed. American Indian Lives Series. University of Nebraska Press, 1990.
* Multiethnic Literature of the United States: Critical Introductions and Classroom Resources. Cordelia Candelaria ed. University of Colorado, 1989. {6} Candelaria's volume contains essays on American Indian literature by Lucy Lippard and Margo Lukens. Poems by Suzanne Benally.
* Word Ways: The Novels of D'Arcy McNickle. John Lloyd Purdy. University of Arizona Press, 1990.
* The Ethnic American Woman: Problems, Protests, Lifestyle. Edith Blicksilver. Originally published 1979. Expanded printing Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Co., 1990. Features commentary on the work of Joy Harjo, Buffy St. Marie, Leslie Silko and others.
Forthcoming
* Mean Spirit. Linda Hogan. Antheneum, 1990. The long-awaited novel.
* American Indian Literatures: An Introduction, Bibliographic Review and Selected Bibliography. A. LaVonne Brown Ruoff. Modern Language Association of America, Summer 1990.
* Inter/View: Talks with America's Writing Women. Mickey Pearlman and Katherine Usher Henderbon, eds. University Press of Kentucky, Summer 1990. Contains an interview with Louise Erdrich.
* Landmarks of Healing: A Study of House Made of Dawn. Susan Scarberry-García. University of New Mexico Press, Summer 1990.
* Drawings of the Song Animals: New and Selected Poems. Duane Niatum. Holy Cow! Fall 1990.
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* Verbal Art in San Blas: Kuna Culture Through Its Discourse. Joel Sherzer. Cambridge University Press, Fall 1990.
* Winged Words: Native Writers Speak. Laura Coltelli, ed. University of Nebraska Press, Fall 1990.
* Redefining American Literary History. A. LaVonne Brown Ruoff and Jerry W. Ward Jr., eds. Modern Language Association of America, Winter 1990.
* Bearbeart. Gerald Vizenor. University of Minnesota Press, 1990. A reprint of Darkness in Saint Louis Bearheart, 1978
* Tribal Scenes and Ceremonies. Gerald Vizenor. University of Minnesota Press, 1990. A reprint of the 1976 edition. Now expanded with new essays.
* Dictionary of Native American Literature. Andrew Wiget, ed. Greenwood Press, Spring 1991.
CALL FOR PUBLICATION
Edith Blicksilver is editing a new book on how women from different ethnic backgrounds cope with stress. She is
"seeking short stories, poems, essays and biographical sketches of three to five pages. Submissions should describe
how people have coped with the loss of a loved one, divorce, disappointment, etc. and include specific ways in which
cultural traditions and ethnic origins have helped or hindered recovery." Submissions to:
Edith Blicksilver
Georgia Tech/English Department
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0165
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
N. Scott Momaday is lecturing at the University of Moscow in May and June 1990.
Canadian scholar John Nichols' "The Wish-Bone Cycle": A Cree Ossian"? appeared in the International Journal of American Linguistics 55: 155-178 (1989). Also Robert Brightman's "Tricksters and Ethnopoetics" appeared in the issue, pp. 179-203.
Laura Coltelli's Native American Literatures. Forum 1/ 1989, a collection of critical essays that she has edited, is now
available. Essays by: Momaday, Evers and Molina, Kroeber, Sands, Volbroth, Schöler, Lutz, Castro, Forbes, Ruppert,
Owens, Ruoff, Lincoln, Costa, Coltelli, Wiget and Giordano.
Contact: SEU-PISA,
1989 Vicolo della Croce Rossa 5
56126 PISA, ITALY
Fedora Giordano writes that her book was published December 1988. Ethnopoetica. Le avanguardie americans e la tradizione orale indiana. (Ethnopoetics: American avant-garde and Native American oral tradition) was published in Rome by Bulzoni, 1988, pp.170. The book, which contains information on early recorders of native cultures (such as Fletcher, Densmore, Curtis, Boas, Rasmussen and Underhill) also discusses D.H. Lawrence, Jaime de Angulo and Mary Austin.