NEA Big Read Lakeshore

StoryWalk® at Central Park: Fry Bread: a Native American Family Story
2021-11-07 - 2021-11-14 | 421 Columbus Ave Grand Haven, MI 49417, 421 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, MI, 49417, United States
Take a StoryWalk® at Grand Haven’s Central Park! Take a walk and read Fry Bread: a Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. Pages from this colorful picture book will be posted on signs along the path for your family to read together. The story will available to read as you stroll Monday, November 8, through Sunday, November 14, until 5 pm. Your walk will take you on a paved, stroller-friendly loop through the park.

Teen Open Mic Night
2021-11-05 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Detroit) | Allegan District Library, Teen Area, 331 Hubbard Street, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Let your voice be heard and your creativity shine at our open mic for teens and tweens. Share short stories, poems, songs, or even jokes, or cheer on your friends from the audience. All content must be appropriate for a general audience. Need some new materials before the performance? Check out the Teen Area throughout October for inspiration from the NEA Big Read Lakeshore’s 2021 book, An American Sunrise. Refreshments and good vibes will be provided at the event. Registration required.

StrikeTime Dance Theatre's "Dancing Through the Pages" series of Fry Bread
2021-11-05 07:00 - 07:30
Join StrikeTime Dance Theatre’s “Dancing Through the Pages” series of Fry Bread. There are two episodes, along with a bonus performance.

Episode 1: Dancing Recipes invites you to hang out in the kitchen learning about cooking, traditions, and experiencing ways to create movement and “dance” recipes that will unlock your creativity and imagination. Join us to learn more about not only the ingredients of FryBread but also the significance it has in Native American culture. Viewers are encouraged to move and create throughout the episode. Geared for 4-7 year olds, but enjoyable for all ages.

Episode 2: “Traditions” invites you to learn more about your own traditions and the traditions of others. We will share and communicate ideas through dance, use of gestures, and the many traditions that happen around a table. Join us to learn about Native American history, traditions and explore the story of FryBread. Special guest Nick Dalton, a mixed-blood two-spirit of Creek/Cherokee descent joins the dancers for a special conversation. Viewers are encouraged to move and create throughout the episode. Geared for ages 8-adult, but appropriate for all ages.
Bonus Performance: Performance will take you on a journey of using poetry and imagery to inspire dance. “Carrying Our Words,” a poem written by Ofelia Zepeda, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation of southwestern Arizona. This piece is appropriate for ages 9-adult

Hope College's Rosebud Reservation Cross-Cultural Experience Event
2021-11-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall, Hope College, 263 College Avenue, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
For 29 years, Professor Susan Cherup has spent time with Hope College students at the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Join this panel discussion and learn more about what students take away from this May Term and how they grow from this experience.

HASP Book Discussion: An American Sunrise
2021-11-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Hope College
Members of HASP are invited to join a book discussion of An American Sunrise led by Amy Henrickson and Jane Lindemuth. Registration is required.

Class with Potawatomi Ceramicist Jason Wesaw Class 2
2021-11-04 09:00 - 14:00 | Outdoor Discovery Center 5675 142nd Ave. Holland, MI 49423
Join local Potawatomi ceramicist, Jason Wesaw, for a two-day ceramics workshop that engages the traditional approach to pottery that was once used by indigenous people. All clay will be locally harvested and processed, and you will have the opportunity to work alongside Jason in hand-building and pit-firing in order to take home your own creation inspired by his work. For registration information, check out www.thecultureworks.org

"The Indian Removal Act Was No Anomaly": Lecture by Dr. Sean O'Neill
2021-11-03 18:00 - 19:00 | virtual
Professor of History at Grand Valley State University Sean O’Neill will give a virtual presentation titled “The Indian Removal Act was no Anomaly”. His presentation will discuss the roots of Indigenous removal, Andrew Jackson and the supporters of the removal, resistance, and effects of removal. It can be viewed on the Spring Lake District Facebook page and there will be a time for questions and answers.
A link to the Facebook page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/SpringLakeDistrictLibrary

Michigan's Indigenous People during the Woodland Era
2021-11-03 16:30 | Outdoor Discovery Center 5675 142nd Ave. Holland, MI 49423
How would you grind flour 500 years ago? How would you hunt an elk or carry water? Try your hand at spear-throwing and some other Eastern Woodland Era skills and enjoy a tour of our replica Ottawa/Potawatomi Summer Village at the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland. Using artifacts, language, traditional houses, games, hunting tools, and common life skills, our educators will share some of the basic life activities of Michigan’s Indigenous Peoples before and after contact with Europeans.
Registration required. Please dress for the weather – much of this program will be outdoors.
Fee: $8 per person
Program location: 5675 142nd Ave. Holland, MI (Down the street from the ODC main entrance)
Here is the registration link – https://outdoordiscovery.doubleknot.com/event/michigans-indigenous-peoples/2830761

Little Read Book Group: Fry Bread
2021-11-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Allegan District Library, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Our elementary book club makes its return! Join us on APS Early Release Day as we read the Little Read Lakeshore book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, followed by extension activities and dramatic play. Registration required.

Author Event with Storyteller and Poet, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier
2021-11-02 18:00 - 19:00
Lydia Whirlwind Soldier will first share stories from her book, Memory Songs. In the Lakota language, there is no word for “poems,” so Lydia Whirlwind Soldier shares her stories as memory songs. Following the stories, she will read sections from her book. This video of Lydia sharing her stories will be posted within the next few weeks.

Poetry Event with Jack Ridl: Another Way to Look at Poetry
2021-11-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Hope College Maas Auditorium 264 Columbia Ave Holland, MI 49423
For those of you who love poetry and those of you who think you don’t, join our poet-in-residence, Jack Ridl, as he takes us inside poems and poetry to help all of us experience poetry in new and exciting ways.
For more information about Jack Ridl visit: https://ridl.wordpress.com/

The Old Wing Mission by Hope Student Michael Bonagura
2021-10-30 - 2021-11-20 | MI
In this video, Hope College student, Michael Bonagura, shares his research through the Joint Archives of Holland. This research provides context about Native American history in western Michigan and the Old Wing Mission. The Old Wing Mission moved to the Holland, Michigan area and aimed to make nomads into settled farmers before selling their land to Albertus Van Raalte. Watch this short video to learn more!

KAM Armstrong Artist Lecture Event with Kelly Church
2021-10-28 15:30 - 16:30 | Hemenway Auditorium at Hope College 257 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI 49423
Native American artist Kelly Church will discuss the history and cultural importance of Black Ash basketry among the Anishinaabe people of the Great Lakes region, and how that cultural tradition is threatened by an invasive insect species and other environmental forces. Kelly is a 5th-generation Anishinaabe basket maker. The artist talk is taking place in conjunction with the Kruizenga Art Museum’s 2021 NEA Big Read Lakeshore focus exhibition Native American Art: Recent Acquisitions from the Kruizenga Museum Collection.

Author Event with Kent Nerburn (Neither Wolf Nor Dog)
2021-10-26 18:00 - 19:00
Join us virtually as Kent Nerbum, author of Neither Wolf Nor Dog, shares his reflections on writing the book and spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The event link will be sent to you after registration.

Kent Nerburn: Q and A with Hope College students
2021-10-26 12:00 - 13:00
Kent Nerburn will virtually visit Professor John Yelding’s class to discuss themes in his book, Neither Wold Nor Dog. This private event allows students to ask questions and engage with Nerburn as he describes his experiences on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Joy Harjo - Creative Writing Class Visit
2021-10-25 14:00 - 15:00
At this Q and A event for Hope College English majors, Joy Harjo will answer questions focused on craft and the writer’s life. This is a private event is for creative writing students at Hope College.

Big Read Author Q and A Event with Joy Harjo for Local Students
2021-10-25 09:00 - 10:00
In this event for area students, Hope College professor emeritus and poet, Jack Ridl, will have a conversation with Joy Harjo about her poems. She will read some poems and play some tracks from her new album, I Pray For My Enemies. The event link will be sent to you after registration.

Book of the Month Virtual Book Discussion: An American Sunrise
2021-10-24 - 2021-11-30 | Howard Miller Public Library 14 S Church St, Zeeland, MI 49464
We have a separate “Book of the Month” Facebook page in which we feature a different book and invite community members to join in the conversation via the FB page.

Voices Through Verse
2021-10-24 - 2021-11-17 | Howard Miller Public Library 14 S Church St, Zeeland, MI 49464
After reading and reflecting on Joy Harjo’s journey through verse, Big Read participants will have the opportunity to share their own triumph and tragedy. Voices through Verse, an interactive community art project, invites participants to use various forms of poetry and materials available in the exhibit space to share life experiences with others. Voices through Verse will be created at Howard Miller Public Library for the month of November. Those wishing to add to this unique community art project may do so during the library’s regular hours of operation: Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm; Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; and Saturday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Class with Potawatomi Ceramicist Jason Wesaw Class 1
2021-10-21 09:00 - 14:00 | Outdoor Discovery Center 5675 142nd Ave. Holland, MI 49423
Join local Potawatomi ceramicist, Jason Wesaw, for a two-day ceramics workshop that engages the traditional approach to pottery that was once used by indigenous people. All clay will be locally harvested and processed, and participants will have the opportunity to work alongside Jason in hand-building and pit-firing in order to take home a creation inspired by his work. For registration information, check out www.thecultureworks.org

Video Lecture Event: “Native American History”, Dr. Fred Johnson
2021-10-20 | virtual
Join Dr. Fred Johnson III, associate professor of history at Hope College, as he gives a video lecture about the history of Native Americans and their interactions with early colonists. This video lecture will be released and available for viewing at any time.

Mini-Exhibit: Mariah Meawasige (Graphic Design Work)
2021-10-14 - 2021-12-22 | Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck, MI, 49453, United States
Visit the SCA to see graphic design work of Ontario based Anishinaabe artist Mariah Meawasige from October 15 – December 22. See for more information about the Saugatuck Center for the Arts https://www.sc4a.org/ and https://www.makoose.com/about for more information about the artist.

Book Raffles at Participating Libraries
2021-10-08 - 2021-10-09 | MI
Stop by your local library to enter a Big Read Lakeshore book raffle!
Allegan Library
Allendale Township Library
Fennville District Library
Gary Byker Memorial Library of Hudsonville
Georgetown Township Public Library
Herrick District Library
Howard Miller Library
Loutit District Library
Patmos Library
Saugatuck Douglas Library
Spring Lake Library
Van Wylen Library
Western Seminary -Cook Library
Otsego District Library
Leighton Township Library
Charles A. Ransom District Library (Plainwell)
Dorr Township Library
Henika District Library
Hopkins Public Library
J.C. Wheeler Public Library (Martin)
Salem Township Library

Little Read Story Walk
2021-10-03 - 2021-11-28 | Hawthorne Pond Natural Area 9876 Black River Ct, Holland, MI 49424
Gun Lake Tribe, Ottawa County Parks & Recreation, and Herrick District Library invite you to experience this year’s Little Read Lakeshore book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story in a unique way by reading page by page as you walk the beautiful trails of Hawthorn Pond Natural Area. This story walk will be available for exploration from October 4 through November 28 anytime the park is open.

Little Read Community Cookbook Submissions
2021-09-30 - 2021-10-31 | Herrick District Library 300 S River Ave, Holland, MI 49423
Inspired by this year’s Little Read book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, Herrick District Library is creating a cookbook composed of recipes and stories of food traditions embraced by members of our community. Whether born of necessity as fry bread was, inspired by cultural heritage, or developed through generations of family customs, many food traditions have stories behind them. We hope you will consider sharing some of your family’s stories and recipes for this community-wide collaborative book that will be available for checkout at both Herrick Library locations! Submit your recipes here: https://herrickdl.org/community-cookbook/!

Native American Art: Recent Acquisitions from the Kruizenga Museum Collection
2021-09-09 - 2021-12-11 | Kruizenga Art Museum 271 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI 49423
As part of its commitment to expand the cultural diversity of its collection, the Kruizenga Art Museum recently began collecting work by modern and contemporary Native American artists. The museum’s goal is gradually to acquire artworks made by indigenous artists from different regions and tribes in a variety of media to reflect the continuing vitality, creativity and relevance of Native American culture. Native American Art: Recent Acquisitions from the Kruizenga Museum Collection features ten Native American artworks by eight different artists. The artworks include paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures that range in date from 1984 to 2021. The exhibition was organized to complement and support the 2021 NEA Big Read Lakeshore Program. Admission to the Kruizenga Art Museum is free and all are welcome. You can see the artworks featured in the exhibition in this digital gallery:
https://providence.hope.edu/index.php/Gallery/795.

Light for the World to See: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander
2021-02-26 14:00 - 15:00 | https://www.youtube.com/HopeCollege
We are thrilled to announce Kwame Alexander will virtually visit Hope College as a result of a collaborative effort of several Hope organizations: NEA Big Read Lakeshore, Black Student Union, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Tensen Writing Fund, Cultural Affairs Committee, Education Department and Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series. Kwame Alexander is a distinguished poet, educator and author, known for his works bringing attention to the experiences of Black lives in America. This event will take place as part of a Black History Month initiative at Hope College. Alexander will discuss a variety of topics including his newest book Light for the World to See: A Thousand Words on Race and Hope.

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 28 books, including THE UNDEFEATED, SWING, and REBOUND, the follow-up to the NEWBERY medal-winning novel, THE CROSSOVER. His story is not a rags to riches story, but it is a story of starting at ground zero as a resourceful writer and business man who sold books out of his car and at Farmer’s Markets, to becoming an expert in engaging young audiences for companies like Nike, ESPN, Sesame Street, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Follett. A regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Prize, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. Kwame is the co-founder of L.E.A.P., an international literacy empowerment organization that built the Barbara E. Memorial Library and Health Clinic in the eastern region of Ghana, and the founder of VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt which publishes books that will engage, entertain, and empower young people to imagine a better world.

Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy with Skip Finley
2020-11-23 19:00 - 20:00 | MI
Join Herrick District Library for an intimate conversation with Skip Finley, author of Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy. Whaling was the first American industry to diversify, and a man got to be captain not because he was white or well connected, but because he knew how to kill a whale. Along the way he would also learn how to read and write. Working with archival records at whaling museums, in libraries, from private archives and studying hundreds of books and thesis, Finley culls the best stories from the lives of over 50 Whaling Captains of Color.
To learn more and register visit: Herrick District Libary

Striketime’s Adventures of Adela: Episode 4
2020-11-23 16:00 - 17:00
Adventure to the Galápagos with Striketime Dance Company as Valentina guides Adela through the Islands. Valentina and Adela learn more about the unique creatures of the Galápagos islands and the importance of protecting our animals friends.
Adela confesses she is overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for the environment alone, so Valentina introduces Adela to her oldest friend, Greta, the Galápagos tortoise. Greta inspires Adela to remember that we all have an important role to play in protecting the environment, and we don’t have to do it alone. To their surprise, they meet an invasive species and Adela brings her promise home to protect her friends and keep them safe, no matter where she is.
This event is sponsored by Lakewood Construction.

Big Read Printmaking Workshop
2020-11-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Cultureworks, 150 E 8th St., Holland, MI, 49422, United States
In partnership with the NEA Big Read Lakeshore, join our friends at Cultureworks to celebrate the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands and look at ocean conservation and preservation in the context of Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea. Inuit artists who live in close connection to the ocean have preserved history, legend, and beauty through carvings and lithographs of animals and birds. We’ll draw artistic inspiration from the imaginative work of modern Inuit graphic artists such as Kenojuak Ashevak, as we design and cut our own stencils for screen printing in this workshop. This workshop is for readers ages 8th grade to adult and costs $20 per person.
Visit CultureWorks to register and learn more.
