BOOK PROJECT 2011-12: Much more to come

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Photo and book cover: Sherman Alexie and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian"
The author and book

You still have about a month to read the community book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and immerse yourself in related topics before the author, Sherman Alexie, visits the campus.

And, after you finish your reading, you can start in on next year’s book. As just announced, it is The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, in which Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great underreported stories of U.S. history: the decadeslong migration of southern blacks northward and westward, in search of better lives. See separate story.

But first, there is still much more to come with this year’s Campus Community Book Project, which is running longer than usual. Normally, the project wraps up with the author’s visit around the end of the fall quarter.

However, with the Alexie novel having to do with Native Americans, the programming has been extended through the annual UC Davis Powwow (this year scheduled for Saturday, April 7), and the author’s visit will come four days later, on Wednesday, April 11.

Alexie is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion, give a talk at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts and sign books after the talk.

Between now and then, the book project calendar lists a couple of films (including Smoke Signals, for which Alexie wrote the screenplay, based on the characters and stories from a book of his short stories) and several other presentations. All events are free and open to the public (with the exception of the author’s nighttime talk at the Mondavi Center).

THE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 28 — “Integration of Behavioral Health Care and Traditional Native American Practice,” presentation by Juan Martinez and Albert Titman of the Sacramento Native American Health Center. 12:10-1 p.m., 1222 Education Building, 4610 X St., Sacramento campus.

Tuesday, April 3 — “Uneasy Remains: UC Davis and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,” film (Uneasy Remains) and panel discussion, with graduate students Brook Colley and Cutcha Risling-Baldy, Department of Native American Studies; Christina Ortiz, International Agricultural Development; and Gina Caison, Department of English. Noon-1:30 p.m., 126 Voorhies Hall.

Tuesday, April 10 — Smoke Signals. Alexie based his screenplay on characters and stories (particularly "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona") in a collection of his own short stories: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., First-Floor Library Instruction Room, Shields Library.

Monday, April 2 — “Native American Education: A Brief History, presentation by Melissa Johnson, program coordinator, Cross Cultural Center, and Nicole Blalock Moore, Department of Native American Studies, 12:10-1:30 p.m., Mee Room, Memorial Union.

Thursday, April 5 — "Humor and Survival," presentation by Karma Waltonen, lecturer, University Writing Program. 12:10-1:30 p.m., Mee Room, MU.

Saturday, April 7 — Powwow, The Pavilion at the Activities and Recreation Center. Look here for details as they become available.

Monday, April 9 — “Reading Sherman Alexie from a Hemispheric Perspective: A View from the Andes,” presentation by Zoila Mendoza, professor, Department of Native American Studies. 12:10-1 p.m., Mee Room, MU.

AUTHOR’S VISIT: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

The Forum@MC — “Written in Blood: Youth Voice, Survival and Censorship,” panel discussion with Alexie and others. 4-5 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center.

Author’s talk — “The Partially True Story of the True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” 8 p.m., Jackson Hall. Tickets: mondaviarts.org, or (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787.

Book signing — 9:30 p.m., Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Read more about the book selection.

Media Resources

Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu

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