Oklahoma City University will present a book discussion series about Native American sovereignty, thanks to a grant from Oklahoma Humanities.
The Let's Talk About It: Abridged Version, a statewide reading and public discussion program, will present “Sovereign Worlds,” a two-session series exploring Native American sovereignty, identity and the contributions of Native peoples to global culture.
The series will feature two book discussions led by local scholars:
• Sept. 15: “Love Medicine” (1984) by Louise Erdrich, led by OCU English professor and Honors Program Director Karen Youmans
• Oct. 20: “Custer Died for Your Sins” (1969) by Vine Deloria Jr., led by Rogers State University fine arts and communications professor Hugh Foley
The sessions are free to the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m. in OCU’s Petree College of Arts & Sciences Walker Center at NW 26th Street and Florida Avenue. Sessions vary, but they frequently open with a scholarly analysis of the text, its recurring themes, the author’s life and significance, and the broader historical context of Native American sovereignty in the United States.
“The questions at the heart of ‘Sovereign Worlds,’ about land, law and what it means to be a sovereign people, are very much alive today,” said Donnie Secreast, director of the Jeanne Hoffman Smith Center for Film & Literature at OCU. “We are bringing these conversations into the community in a way that's open, scholarly and accessible to everyone, not just for students in the classroom.”
Books for the series may be borrowed free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at OCU’s Dulaney-Browne Library circulation desk. Participants are also welcome to join the sessions with their own books.
Oklahoma Humanities established the Let’s Talk About It book club program to promote literature as a “catalyst for meaningful conversations, encouraging readers to reflect on their experiences, share thoughts and ideas, consider diverse perspectives, and gain new insight.” The program is made possible by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, McCasland Foundation and OCU. Learn more at okcu.edu/film-literature.
