An Evening with Cowlitz tribe members Elissa Washuta and Christine Dupres

The Seattle Public Library - Author Readings and Library Events

After reading selections from their books and new work, Dupres and Washuta -- both members of the Cowlitz Tribe -- will discuss Cowlitz identity in light of a recent federal decision to grant land and casino rights to the Tribe in Southern Washington.Washuta’s memoir, “My Body is a Book of Rules,” tells of her struggles with bipolar disorder, sexual assault, and antipsychotic medication. As a young adult, her crisis of American Indian identity bleeds into other areas of self-doubt; mental illness, sexual trauma, ethnic identity, and independence become intertwined.Elissa Washuta received an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington, where she is an adviser and lecturer in American Indian Studies. Her work has appeared in Salon, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Third Coast.Dupres shows how stories are central to the ongoing process of forming a Cowlitz identity. Through interviews and profiles of political leaders, Dupres reveals the narrative and rhetorical strategies that protect and preserve the memory and culture of the tribe. In the process, she creates a blueprint for cultural preservation that current and future Cowlitz tribal leaders -- as well as other indigenous activists -- can use to keep tribal memories alive.Christine Dupres is on the faculty at the American Leadership Forum and owner of Radiant Life Counseling.