Talking Rocks, Talking Sky: Authors of books bridging oral and earth/planetary history to visit Houghton, Apr. 14-15

The Carnegie Museum Seminar Series in Keweenaw Natural History will present "Talking Rocks: Common Ground -- geology in the Lake Superior Region and Native Americans" on Tuesday, Apr. 14. (Image courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- Two distinguished authors from Duluth, Ron Morton and Carl Gawboy, will visit Houghton and Michigan Tech as part of the Carnegie Seminar Series in Keweenaw Natural History on Tuesday and Wednesday, Apr. 14-15.

Morton is a geologist and emeritus professor from University of Minnesota, Duluth. Gawboy is an Ojibwe elder and well-known artist. They have taught unique classes together that bridge legend and geological science.

A reception will be held at the Carnegie Museum Community Room at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 14. Discussion, introductions and light refreshments will be featured, and this will be followed by a joint presentation titled: "Talking Rocks: Common Ground -- geology in the Lake Superior Region and Native Americans."

As the geologist carefully presents a modern scientific perspective, the storyteller eloquently recounts a traditional Native American understanding, passed on through tales, myths, and symbols that illustrate how intimately his people have known and honored the earth and its history for over a hundred centuries. 

Duluth authors Carl Gawboy and Ron Morton will also give a presentation and book signing at the JR Van Pelt Library, Michigan Tech campus, on Wednesday, Apr. 15. (Book cover photo courtesy Carnegie Museum)

A book signing (Two books: Talking Rocks and Talking Sky) will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Apr. 15, in the East Reading room, First floor, JR Van Pelt Library, on the Michigan Tech campus. It will be followed, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., by a joint presentation titled: "Talking Sky: Ojibwe constellations and sky stories -- how they used them to live on and with the land."

From the important seasonal constellations (Moose, Panther, Wintermaker, and Nanaboujou) through wandering wolves, flying skeletons, and brave fisher to meteors and comets, the authors bring to life the sky world of a northern people.

This special visit is sponsored by the Carnegie Museum of Houghton with additional support from the Departments of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, and Social Sciences, the JR Van Pelt Library, the Indigenous Issues Discussion Group and the Isle Royale and Keweenaw National Parks Association. If you wish to meet with these visitors contact Elise Nelson (906 482-7140 or elisen@cityofhoughton.com).

The Carnegie Museum is located at 105 Huron Street on the corner of Montezuma Avenue in Houghton.

Click here for more information about these special events.