CityLife

Two Native American Poets Not A One Man Show

THE opening event of 2009’s Not Part Of Festival, Two Native American Poets featured the literary talents of Gordon Henry & Kimberley Blaeser – members of Minnesota’s White Earth Chippewa tribe, making their first ever visit to the UK.

Fundamental to the poets’ work was the sense of pride and tradition – remembering both their own personal histories and those of their people, forever scarred by hundreds of years of persecution and hardship.

But despite constant reminders of issues such as imperialism, suicide and alcoholism that have blighted Native Americans in their own ways, fierce pride and subtle humour was never far away in their work, and the experience was overwhelmingly positive.

Thoroughly thought-provoking, touching and personal.
 

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