Native Writers: Voices of Power

Learn about the life events and aspirations that shaped the voices of ten influential Native writers, whose novels, short stories and plays encompass the soul of Native life. Learn how these writers draw from personal experience to create situations and characters that are entertaining and poignant. Featured writers include:

Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur d'Alene) Marilyn Dumont (Cree/M tis)
Joseph Boyden (Cree/M tis) Louise Erdrich (Ojibwa)
Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) Tomson Highway (Cree)
Maria Campbell (M tis) N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa/Cherokee)
Nicola Campbell (Interior Salish of Nle7kepmx Tim Tingle (Choctaw)
Thompson] and Nsilx Okanagan]/M tis)

Many individuals portrayed in the Native Trailblazers series surmounted adversity and humble beginnings in their journey for personal success. The Trailblazer books feature positive role models for Native students while providing non-Native students with a view of Indigenous people today.


About the Author
Sigafus, Kim: -

Kim Sigafus is an award-winning Ojibwa writer and photographer whose family is from the White Earth Reservation in northwest Minnesota. She is an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar and gives presentations on Native harvest, history, and music. She coauthored two award-winning books: Native Writers: Voices of Power and Native Elders: Sharing Their Wisdom. Sigafus is also the author of three PathFinders novels for reluctant readers: Nowhere to Hide, Autumn's Dawn, and Finding Grace. She resides with her husband in Freeport, Illinois.

Ernst, Lyle: -

Lyle Ernst was a freelance journalist and writer. In addition to contributing news stories and feature articles to local newspapers, he coauthored two books in the Native Trailblazers Series: Native Writers: Voices of Power and Native Elders: Sharing Their Wisdom. Ernst was a member of the Native American Coalition of the Quad Cities, based in Moline, Illinois.