Joseph Bruchac

By: Amanda Burleson

The Early YearsThe Early Years

Joseph Bruchac was born October 16, 1942 in Joseph Bruchac was born October 16, 1942 in Saratoga Springs, New York.Saratoga Springs, New York.

Joseph’s father was of Slovak decent and his mother Joseph’s father was of Slovak decent and his mother was of Native American decent.was of Native American decent.

Joseph Bruchac grew up at the base of the Joseph Bruchac grew up at the base of the Adirondack Mountains.Adirondack Mountains.

Joseph was raised by his maternal grandparents. Joseph was raised by his maternal grandparents. “Though my parents’ home was less than a half mile “Though my parents’ home was less than a half mile away, . . . I never spent a night under their roof.”away, . . . I never spent a night under their roof.”

Joseph’s grandparents owned Bowman’s Store, a small Joseph’s grandparents owned Bowman’s Store, a small gas station and general store, where he spent much of gas station and general store, where he spent much of his childhood. “Bowman’s store was a place where his childhood. “Bowman’s store was a place where small seeds of love and trust, of belief and sharing, small seeds of love and trust, of belief and sharing, were planted. . . “were planted. . . “

Jesse Bowman (Obomdsawin), Joseph’s grandfather Jesse Bowman (Obomdsawin), Joseph’s grandfather was of Abenaki Indian and French ancestry. Joseph’s was of Abenaki Indian and French ancestry. Joseph’s grandfather never admitted his Abenaki ancestry and grandfather never admitted his Abenaki ancestry and would identify himself as French when asked.would identify himself as French when asked.

Joseph’s grandfather talked about Indians when he Joseph’s grandfather talked about Indians when he was in his garden, though many of his practices were was in his garden, though many of his practices were traditionally Native American.traditionally Native American.

Joseph Bruchac’s early years laid the foundation for Joseph Bruchac’s early years laid the foundation for his future as a Native American writer.his future as a Native American writer.

““For Native American peoples of North America For Native American peoples of North America multiculturalism simply means people. Not some multiculturalism simply means people. Not some people: all people Wli dogo wongan is how we say people: all people Wli dogo wongan is how we say it in Abenaki, . . . a phrase that might simply be it in Abenaki, . . . a phrase that might simply be translated as good relatives meaning all our translated as good relatives meaning all our relations in a figurative sense.”relations in a figurative sense.”

““My firm belief, is that when perceived properly , My firm belief, is that when perceived properly , when presented and used with sensitivity and when presented and used with sensitivity and balance, ideas of multiculturalism can empower all balance, ideas of multiculturalism can empower all of our children.”of our children.”

Thoughts on MulticulturalismThoughts on Multiculturalism

Joseph Bruchac’s early years laid the foundation for his future as a Joseph Bruchac’s early years laid the foundation for his future as a writer.writer.

He claims that his writing career began by listening. As a small child He claims that his writing career began by listening. As a small child around the store where people were always coming and going he was around the store where people were always coming and going he was able to listen to many stories. able to listen to many stories.

““Being a listener lead me to reading.”Being a listener lead me to reading.”

Though Joseph’s grandfather could not read or write, his grandmother Though Joseph’s grandfather could not read or write, his grandmother was educated and had many books that young Joseph had access to. was educated and had many books that young Joseph had access to. She would also drive him to the library to get new books.She would also drive him to the library to get new books.

““Being a reader lead me to writing. I began writing poems in the Being a reader lead me to writing. I began writing poems in the second grade and I’ve never stopped.”second grade and I’ve never stopped.”

Becoming a Writer

When Joseph was in his early twenties, a When Joseph was in his early twenties, a mentor introduced him to a circle divided mentor introduced him to a circle divided into four sections. This introduction into four sections. This introduction impacted his writing greatly.impacted his writing greatly.

““The first part of the Circle represents the The first part of the Circle represents the dawn and the first step to learning, which dawn and the first step to learning, which is to listen. The second part of the Circle is to listen. The second part of the Circle stands for morning, which is to observe. stands for morning, which is to observe. The third part of the Circle is the afternoon The third part of the Circle is the afternoon and it reminds us to remember. The and it reminds us to remember. The fourth part of the Circle represents the fourth part of the Circle represents the sunset and the final step to learning, sunset and the final step to learning, which is to share.”which is to share.”

The Circle

FatherhoodFatherhood

Joseph had two sons and he decided that he wanted his Joseph had two sons and he decided that he wanted his children to learn about their Indian heritage. children to learn about their Indian heritage.

He told them stories and when he ran out of stories to tell He told them stories and when he ran out of stories to tell he traveled to seek out Native elders. he traveled to seek out Native elders.

““I listened. I read books. I researched. And I learned. I listened. I read books. I researched. And I learned. Being a father made me a storyteller.”Being a father made me a storyteller.”

Joseph has a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. Joseph has a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio.Union Institute of Ohio.

His work as a educator includes three years at His work as a educator includes three years at Keta Secondary School in Ghana. He spent eight Keta Secondary School in Ghana. He spent eight years at Skidmore College where he taught years at Skidmore College where he taught Creative Writing and African American Literature. Creative Writing and African American Literature. He also taught at Green Meadows Intitute, a He also taught at Green Meadows Intitute, a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. Press.

Education and Experience

Children’s LiteratureChildren’s Literature

One of the first children’s books that Mr. One of the first children’s books that Mr. Bruchac ever had published was Bruchac ever had published was Turkey Brother Turkey Brother and Other Iroquois Storiesand Other Iroquois Stories. This was a . This was a compilation of stories that he had told his sons.compilation of stories that he had told his sons.

Joseph Bruchac is an extremely diverse writing Joseph Bruchac is an extremely diverse writing repertoire. He has written biographies, repertoire. He has written biographies, autobiographies, teacher’s resources, picture autobiographies, teacher’s resources, picture books, informational books, folktales, plays, books, informational books, folktales, plays, poetry. All of his writings have undertones of poetry. All of his writings have undertones of Bruchac’s Native American Heritage.Bruchac’s Native American Heritage.

FolkloreFolklore

BiographiesBiographiesAutobiographiesAutobiographies

FictionFiction

InformationalInformational

Plays, Poetry, Storytelling, Plays, Poetry, Storytelling, Games and Instructional Games and Instructional

MaterialsMaterials

The Circle ContinuesThe Circle Continues Joseph, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown Joseph, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown

sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively on sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively on projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture and projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture and oral tradition, language and traditional Native skills, oral tradition, language and traditional Native skills, through storytelling, performing traditional and through storytelling, performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki.contemporary Abenaki.

““A story is a way both of seeing the world and experiencing A story is a way both of seeing the world and experiencing the world. When you hear a story, you can find yourself in the world. When you hear a story, you can find yourself in that story. That story is the result of the things that people that story. That story is the result of the things that people have seen and heard and understood, often for many have seen and heard and understood, often for many generations before you.”generations before you.”