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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Acclaimed Native American Writer to Give Keynote Address Greg Sarris, a distinguished writer, professor and Native American leader, will deliver the keynote address at California State University, Chico Wednesday, Sept. 19, for "Sharing Traditions: Honoring California Native Americans."Sarris' address, titled "Sharing Memory," will be in Harlen Adams Theatre starting at 7 p.m. His talk is free and open to the public. "Sharing Traditions," a week-long series sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, pays tribute to the Dorothy Morehead Hill Collection. Recently received by the university, the collection includes several thousand photos, hundreds of audio tapes and other materials studying Northern California Native American culture. Sarris is the author of Grand Avenue, an award-winning collection of stories set in Santa Rosa he adapted for an HBO miniseries. The film, which he co-executive produced with Robert Redford, was named Best Feature Film at the American Indian Film Festival. Sarris is a consultant to the Sundance Film Festival, where he developed a summer film writing lab for American Indians. Sarris' other publications include Watermelon Nights and Weaving the Dream: The Story of Mabel McKay. He recently adapted Watermelon Nights for the stage and has written plays for Pieces of the Quilt, Intersection Theatre and the Mark Taper Forum. A new play, Mission Indians, will open at the Intersection Theatre in San Francisco in February 2002. Sarris' work largely concerns the current experiences of Northern California Native Americans. He is serving his fifth elected term as chairman of his tribe, the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, formerly known as the Federated Coast Miwok. He co-authored a bill signed by President Clinton in 2000 restoring the Federated Coast Miwok as a recognized American Indian tribe. Sarris is Fletcher Jones Professor of Creative Writing and Literature at Loyola Marymount University. Prior to that, Sarris was a professor of English at UCLA. He earned his Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University, where he received the highest award for excellence in teaching. He is co-editor of Teaching the Work of Louise Erdrich with Connie Jacobs and James Giles. Currently, Sarris is writing a novel set in Santa Rosa and a personal history focusing on his multicultural ancestry. He is also writing and executive producing a weekly series he created for Showtime about a small California Indian tribe with a casino and the sometimes awkward relationship it has with the surrounding community. Sarris sits on several boards, including the National Video project, Survivors' Project and Word for Word Theatre, where he is honorary president. Following is a list of events for "Sharing Traditions: Honoring California Native Americans": North American, Canadian & Australian Prints Aug. 27-Sept. 23 - Janet Turner Print Gallery 20th century examples of native imagery. Film Showing: "Grand Avenue" Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. - Harlen Adams Theatre Showing of Sarris' acclaimed HBO feature film. "Pomo Basketweavers: A Tribute to Three Elders" Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. - Ayers Hall 120 Award-winning video features history, culture and basket weaving traditions of Pomo women. Four Winds of Indian Education Charter School Sept. 20 at Noon - Free Speech Area Students demonstrate traditional California American Indian dance. Anthropology Forum Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. - Ayres 120 California American Indian Basket Makers Association members demonstrate and discuss their art. Writer's Voice Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. o Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall Poet Janice Gould (Maidu), author of Beneath My Heart and Earthquake Weather, and recipient of a Ford Fellowship and NEA grant, reads from her work.
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