A Conversation Between Children’s Lit Authors: Cynthia Grady and Laurel Goodluck

February 16, 2021, Las Cruces, Big Read

Join two New Mexican authors as they discuss writing for children and their relationship to Japanese American internment. Laurel Goodluck is a children’s book author living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She comes from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tismish tribes and is of Japanese descent. Her great-grandfather, Harry Sharai, was imprisoned in Santa Fe and Lordsburg Internment camps, separated from his family who was split up into different camps throughout the West.

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

November 12, 2020, Indigenous Storytelling in Art & Literature

Earlier this month, we launched MIAC’s November speaker series, “Indigenous Storytelling in Art and Literature,” co-hosted by Deputy Director Dr. Matthew Martinez (Ohkay Owingeh) and Curatorial Assistant Lillia McEnaney. According to Dr. Reese, (Nambé Owingeh), less than 1% of children’s books published in the United States include American Indian characters or authors. These conversations are an extension of MIAC’s ongoing work with local schools and educators and are meant to serve as a resource for New Mexicans to learn about Indigenous communities throughout the Southwest.

Our second speaker is Laurel Goodluck. Laurel Goodluck writes picture books with modern Native themes that reflect Native children’s cultural experiences and everyday life, showing Native children that they have a perspective that is unique and powerful.