Native American author to share music, stories, dance Jan. 18

HANCOCK -- Come along! Come dance your dream!

Native American Elder Warren Petoskey will give a presentation about his recently published book, Dancing My Dream, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock. The presentation includes video, music, storytelling and dancing.

Petoskey, age 64, is an elder of the Waganakising Odawa and Minneconjou Lakotah nations. He is a writer, storyteller, artisan, musician and dancer; and he plays the Native flute, the hand drum and the guitar.

Dancing My Dream is the story of Petoskey’s journey to preserve Native American culture while living in three sometimes conflicting nations: Odawa (or Ottawa) and Lakotah -- and the United States.

"My story offers healing wisdom," Petoskey says of his book. "Most Americans know the tragic stories from the Great Plains that nearly destroyed Indian nations, but that’s not the whole story of our survival. My own family passed through landmarks of American history like the Trail of Tears -- but we also survived the lesser-known campaign to wipe out Indian culture in a nationwide system of boarding schools."

Warren Petoskey, author of Dancing My Dream, will present Native American music, dance and storytelling Monday, Jan. 18, at the Finnish American Heritage Center. (Photos courtesy Finlandia University)

"I am a survivor among these tough, wise, spiritually guided people," he adds. "Now, I’m inviting you to journey with me. Whether you are Indian or not, you will find moments of great wisdom and beauty -- and inspiration for your own survival. We all come from a spiritual origin and we are on our way to a spiritual destination."

Petoskey has also recorded two music CDs: Medicine for the Ages and Land of the Crooked Tree.

Petoskey and his wife of 42 years, Barbara, live near Baraga, Mich., and Lake Superior. They have seven children and fifteen grandchildren.

Petoskey’s visit to Finlandia University is sponsored by the university’s Campus Enrichment Committee.

There is no charge to attend and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be available by donation. For additional information, please call Debbie Karstu, associate professor of nursing, at 906-487-7354.