Sacred Breath: Indigenous Writing and Storytelling

4249 Whitman Court Northeast,Seattle WA 98105

23 May, 2023

Description

The Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington hosts an annual literary and storytelling series. Sacred Breath features Indigenous writers and storytellers sharing their craft at the beautiful wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House on the UW Seattle campus. Storytelling offers a spiritual connection, a sharing of sacred breath. Literature, similarly, preserves human experience and ideals. Both forms are durable and transmit power that teaches us how to live. Both storytelling and reading aloud can impact audiences through the power of presence, allowing for the experience of the transfer of sacred breath as audiences are immersed in the experience of being inside stories and works of literature. Due to departmental factors, this event will feature only one artist, instead of the usual two. We are looking forward to several new and expanded next year as the Series grows. Stay tuned! ABOUT THE ARTIST LAURA DA' - A poet and a public-school teacher, Laura Da’ studied creative writing at the University of Washington and the Institute of American Indian Arts. Da’ is the recipient of fellowships from the Native Arts and Culture Foundation and Tin House and has been a writer in residence for Richard Hugo House. She is the current Poet Laureate for the City of Redmond. Da’ is the author of Tributaries, winner of the American Book Award, and Instruments of the True Measure, winner of the Washington State Book Award. Da’ is Eastern Shawnee. She lives near Renton with her husband and son.