Whittemore Library: The NEA Big Read: An American Sunrise at Framingham State University: Event

NEA Big Read: An American Sunrise at Framingham State Poster

NEA Big Read: An American Sunrise at FSU Poster - PDF file

Press Release about the NEA Big Read at FSU - Link

Native American Music

Playlist - American Indian Flute Music from Smithsonian Folkways
The flute, blown either from an end or from the side, is one of the few indigenous instruments that has survived in American Indian traditional music.
Playlist - In Our Own Voice: Songs of American Indian Women
Because most Native women's traditional singing takes place in the private, domestic settings associated with family, clan, ceremonial, or work activities, it is rarely heard or seen outside of these settings, leading to the unfortunate misperception that women have little presence or significance in the performance and preservation of Native musical traditions. The numerous, diverse, and powerful American Indian women's voices on Smithsonian Folkways prove otherwise.
Picture Gallery - American Indian Music
Across the Americas there are many different Native cultures, each with unique musical traditions. The National Museum of the American Indian and other branches of the Smithsonian include music and sound–related objects from many of these cultures in their collections.

FAQs about FSU's NEA Big Read initiative.

What is the NEA Big Read?

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, a partnership with Arts Midwest, broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Showcasing a diverse range of titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, the NEA Big Read aims to inspire conversation and discovery.

- found on the NEA Big Read page.

What is the featured book and how can I find a copy?

The featured book is An American Sunrise, by US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Free print copies of the book that you can keep will be available at the Whittemore Library at Framingham State University and our partner locations, Framingham Public Library, the Danforth Art Museum and School, and MassBay Community College. For information about how to find a print copy, please contact Millie Gonzalez.
E-book copies are also available to borrow with a valid Minuteman Library Network account. If you would like an e-book copy but do not have a tablet, you can inquire about borrowing an iPad from the Whittemore LIbrary.

Does these events cost anything? Who could go?

Most events staged in conjunction with FSU's NEA Big Read are free and open to the public. The art workshops staged by the Danforth Art School require a fee to attend to cover materials and expenses. Visit Danforth's Take a Class webpage to learn more about their upcoming workshops, including their entry fees and relative difficulty levels.

FSU and the Smithsonian Institution

How is the Smithsonian involved with FSU?

Framingham State University is proud to be one of just six Smithsonian Affiliates in Massachusetts and the only one located at a higher education institution. Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term, high quality partnerships with museums and educational organizations in order to share collections, exhibitions, learning opportunities, and research expertise.

Upcoming Events for the NEA Big Read: An American Sunrise at FSU

Click on an event date to jump to its name. Click on an event name to jump to its event page.

More Information about Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo
Joy Harjo is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She is serving her third term as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States.
Artist page at the Poetry Foundation website
Biographical and bibliographical information, as well as an online collection of the poet's works with some audio options.
An American Sunrise
Ms. Harjo's eighth collection of poems revisits the homeland from which her ancestors were uprooted in 1830 as a result of the Indian Removal Act.
Library of Congress Names Joy Harjo the Nation's 23rd Poet Laureate
This archived announcement from June 10, 2019 names Joy Harjo as our national Poet Laureate. Her tenure in the position has since been extended twice.

More Information about Native American Heritage

To learn more about Indigenous territories, treaties and languages, visit the the website of the Native Land mapping project.

The Whittemore Library maintains a LibGuide dedicated to the observance of National Native American Heritage Month. It contains a variety of helpful links related to Native American Heritage, including streaming content, online articles, and public websites.

Living Nations, Living Words: A Guide for Educators guide offers teachers and other educators ideas for using U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's signature project, "Living Nations, Living Words," in the classroom.

Information about the NEA Big Read Grant

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

El proyecto NEA Big Read es una iniciativa del National Endowment for the Arts (el Fondo Nacional para las Artes de Estados Unidos) en cooperación con Arts Midwest.

In June of 2021, Framingham State University was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Grant from Arts Midwest to support its NEA Big Read initiative.

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The Henry Whittemore Library at Framingham State University is one of 70+ nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read project.

The NEA Big Read: An American Sunrise at Framingham State University: Event

Event

Welcome to the NEA Big Read at Framingham State!