Joseph Bruchac is a prolific Native American author, storyteller, and musician of Abenaki ancestry. He works to preserve Abenaki culture and language. His writing spans genres including children's literature, historical fiction, fantasy, and poetry. Central themes in his work include respecting others, listening to each other, and respecting the earth. He has received many awards for his writing and storytelling.

1. Joseph Bruchac
Native American
Author | Storyteller | Musician
Presented by
Lori Vanden Berghe

2. “The central themes in my work are simple
ones - that we have to listen to each other
and to the earth, that we have to respect
each other and the earth, that we never
know anyone until we know what they have
in their heart.”
―Joseph Bruchac

3. background
• Ancestry is English, Slovak,
and Abenaki Indian from
upstate New York
• Works to preserve Abenaki culture,
language and traditional Native skills
• Education
▫ B.A. from Cornell,
▫ M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from
Syracuse
▫ Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union
Institute of Ohio.
• Prolific writer: first book published in 1975

4. • Cherokee Nation Prose Award
• Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in
Children’s Literature
• 2005 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award
• 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native
Writers Circle of the Americas
• 1998 Writer of the Year Award from the Native
Writers Circle of the Americas
• 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Native
Writers Circle of the Americas
• 1995 Knickerbocker Award
awards

5. Horn Book
Honor and
Boston
1997
Globe Book
Paterson
Award
Award
1996
Scientific
American 2001 Parents
Children’s Book Guide to
Award Children's
Media Award
1999 Jane
Addams 2000
Children’s Parents
awards
Book Choice
Award Gold
Award

6. “To this day, my way of looking at life
and the writing I do always is
influenced in one way or another by
my abiding respect for the natural
world and my gratitude for all that it
has given and continues to give.”
―Joseph Bruchac

7. Listen to Author
and storyteller
Joseph Bruchac
explaining the
origin and
significance of the
flute and the drum
to Native American
culture.
Storyteller

8. teacher
resources

9. One thing can be said about Bruchac’s
collection of writing, he appeals to all ages.
His children’s books bring Native American
explanations to natural phenomena .
children’s literature

10. historical fiction
• Piques student
interest
• Artfully told and
incorporates history
seamlessly
• Protagonists face
realistic, complex
issues
• Stereotypes avoided
• Authentic settings

11. fantasy
From
Native America
to
Slovakia
Bruchac departs from Native
American territory and writes a
humorous fantasy story with
Prince Rashko as his protagonist.

12. poetry
“…all of us need to try to
be kinder and more
open, that small acts of
kindness open the doors
of the spirit and connect
us to a deep reservoir of
energy--an energy often
expressed within
poetry.”

13. Website sources
• “A Chat With Joseph Bruchac.” Wordsmith.org.
10 Jan. 2001. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
• “Joseph Bruchac.” JosephBruchac. Web. 15 Oct.
2011.
• “Joseph Bruchac.” Scholastic. 2011. Web. 31 Oct.
2011.
• “Joseph Bruchac.” YouTube. 2010. Web. 15 Nov.
2011.
• Talman, Mark. “Joseph Bruchac.” Poetry.us.com.
2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
• West, Gordon. “Joseph Bruchac: From Native
America to Slovakia.” Kirkus Reviews. 23 Nov.
2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.