Volume 18 Fall 2006 Issue No. 1

In This Issue:
The Winding Road to Student Success

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INTRODUCTION TCJ STUDENT EDITION

by Chris Eyre

Native dreamers and writers are essential to our tenacity and cultural continuity as Native people. Our Native writers -- storytellers, contemporary or traditional, new or old, urban or rural -- provide our collective pulse and self-expression. Ironically, as Native people, it is far more important for us to express ourselves, not for our own sake, but for the sake of those that think they know us.

As Indian people in this country, we represent approximately 1% of the populace, but the impact of our cultures on America’s identity and on the development of our country is second to no other. Conversely, in recent history, we have continually been shaped by other peoples’ perceptions of who we are -- in the arts, music, television, film, and literature.

The sharing of personal experience is valuable to the individual artists, but I argue that it is just as valuable to those who don’t know us yet. As Native people we’ve inherited the burden of “externally educating” those around us. So it is with grace and honor that we present our own stories to manifest the destiny of our dreams and scribe on keyboards and occasionally on paper, for the world to catch up to.

It is a blessing to be a member of the smallest numeric minority and to be able to share in the eclectic, indigenously-diverse, and truly unique experience of the human being. You will undoubtedly enjoy these entertaining and insightful short writings.

It is a pleasure to introduce – H. Jack DuBray’s “Amazing Alaskan Adventure” (please, give us the book); Krista Harada, who helps to change our lives, too; Chris Martinez, who has learned to endure success.

Jimmy Lee Beason’s smartly far-sighted, introspective riff; Daniel Remmenga’s political-perceptions; Erin Parker, who shows us the power of intergenerational tears; Carolyn Hurdis’s intriguing and haunting narrative-style; Dan Hawk’s marvelous story of beauty; Jesse Short Bull, who shows us a boy that finds his rhythm.

Tacey M. Atsitty, who takes us to her poetic places; Ishmael M. Antar’s wonderfully specific lines of cool whip; Ronya Joy Hoblit’s prose-prayer at the altar; Sandy White Shield’s “wrong-turned-into-a-right”; and Lois Red Elk, thank you, for reminding us to “say my name!”
Check ‘em out!!!

Chris Eyre (Cheyenne and Arapaho), award-winning and celebrated director and producer, broke into the film world in 1998 with his first feature film “Smoke Signals.” Other films Eyre has worked on include: “Tenacity” (1995), “Skins” and “Skinwalker” (both in 2002), “A Thief of Time” (2003), “Edge of America” (2004), and “A Thousand Roads” (2005), shown exclusively in the Smithsonian¹s National Museum of the American Indian. Eyre’s cache of wins increased in 2006 with the Director’s Guild of America Award and the Peabody Award.

In TCJ, Vol. 17, N.3, Eyre’s mothers, adoptive and biological, are his heroes: “(They) made me and made me complete.” About writing, Eyre states, "My interest in writing is mostly an admiration of discipline to express one’s self through written language and words. It is a craft I have yet to fully realize, but I know enough to know it takes a real vision and, more importantly, a commitment."

Visit Chris Eyre's website: http://www.chriseyre.org/