Macomb, IL – A Western Illinois University journalism professor believes Native American knowledge has been largely ignored by academia. She hopes to help change that.
Penny Kelsey is author of "Tribal Theory In Native American Literature." She hopes the recently released book encourages others with tribal knowledge to write about it.
"In North America alone there are well over 500 tribal traditions," says Kelsey. "And I think that rich variety is really important. There's a whole world to be discovered there."
Kelsey, who is Seneca, says the bulk of people who specialize in Native American literature don't study Native American languages. She started studying Dakota in the mid-90s while working with an after school children's program on a reservation. She feels she developed decent fluency in Dakota after about three years of studying it.
Kelsey says other Native American languages can be much more difficult to learn. Some are as complex as Japanese.
Kelsey says she was continually surprised as she researched the book. It made her realize how much more she has to learn. Some of the stories are from hundreds of years ago. She also studied contemporary texts, many of which are informed by the past.
Penny Kelsey will talk about her book "Tribal Theory In Native American Literature" at 4:30pm on Thursday, October 16 in Taylor Hall on Macomb's Courthouse Square. You can also hear more about the book by clicking on the audio button.