Mission
The National Book Foundation's American Voices program brings National Book Award authors to American Indian Reservations across the country, where they explore the ways in which reading and writing can help preserve the ancient Native tradition of storytelling.

Until this century, untold generations of American Indians learned about their history and culture from stories passed down by their communities' elders. The displacement of the Native peoples disrupted this practice. As communities were scattered, many of their stories were lost, while others were appropriated by outsiders with little understanding of Native life. American Voices is designed to help program participants reclaim their history, and tell the stories of their lives today in their own words.

Sharon Olds with Rachelyn Gray, a senior at Hoopa High School American Voices Hoopa-Yurok Reservation, May 1997, Northern California photo:Ruth Morgan Joseph Bruchac Fond Du Lac Indian Reservation, Cloquet Mn April 15-17, 1997 photo: Meg Kearney

Structure of a Residency
A four-day residency by a National Book Award author serves as the catalyst for this unique initiative. Sponsored in conjunction with tribal elementary schools, high schools and colleges, the residencies are open to all members of participating reservations. In addition to engaging their audiences in discussions about Native and non-Native American literature, the authors explore the relationship between reading and writing, and conduct writing workshops for people of all ages.

Every American Voices residency features the donation of books to participants and the host site's library. Every participant receives a copy of the visiting author's book to keep. The library, in addition to receiving copies of the author's books, receives other titles donated by the Foundation and the publishing community.

Gary Snyder thanks a dancer on the Shoshone-Bannock Reservation, Fort Hall, Idaho. photo credit: Ken Firebaugh

Sessions with the author are usually held in the classroom (not assemblies), and typically involve a combination of discussions and writing workshops. Ideally, the author should meet with each group of students at least twice. (Authors usually teach four classes a day, tops.)

Each residency also features a community event -- a reading and dialogue with the audience -- so that everyone who is interested has a chance to meet and talk with the author.

The Foundation pays for the author's honorarium, meals, accommodations, and travel expenses. A member of the Foundation staff will also come out to help organize the actual program. Partners at the host site are asked to help arrange the agenda, ensure teachers and students are prepared, and assist in organizing the community event and publicity in the local papers and radio stations.

By the end of 2002, the Foundation will have sponsored more than 32 residencies (including revisits) on 20 Reservations -- in addition to a residency that included the public schools of Tulsa, Oklahoma -- since the inception of the American Voices program in 1993. Once a Reservation participates in the program, it automatically is on the Foundation's schedule for a revisit within three to five years' time.

Our Funders
American Voices is made possible by The National Book Foundation with leadership support from the Lannan Foundation, with additional funding from the National Endowment on the Arts, Michel Roux/Grand Marnier Foundation, Olivia Goldsmith, and Deborah E. Wiley.

For More Information
If you are interested in hosting an American Voices residency, contact Leslie Shipman, Senior Program Officer at The National Book Foundation, by calling (212) 685-0261, e-mailing her at lshipman@nationalbook.org, or writing The National Book Foundation, 95 Madison Avenue, Suite 709, New York, NY 10016.