Hyperlocal Tribal Cultures in the Heartland

In this presentation, Oscar Hokeah guides the audience through the multi-voiced narrative of his novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance, which follows a young Indigenous man named Ever Geimausaddle as he navigates the complex realities of poverty, systemic injustice, and historical trauma. Moving beyond the pages of the book, Hokeah connects his fiction to his 20-plus years of real-world experience as an Indian Child Welfare advocate and youth worker. He illustrates how the "blanket dance"—a traditional ceremony of community support and mutual aid—serves as a beautiful, living metaphor for how Indigenous families utilize tribal culture, ritual, and collective love to heal intergenerational wounds. This program is a masterclass in modern storytelling that challenges single-narrative stereotypes of Native communities. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of multi-tribal identities, the vital role of community in personal survival, and the enduring power of cultural resilience. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the speech.

Oscar Hokeah is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, with Mexican heritage from Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico. He holds an M.A. in English from the University of Oklahoma, with a concentration in Native American Literature. He also holds a B.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), with a minor in Indigenous Liberal Studies. He is the winner of the 2023 PEN/Hemingway Award, a recipient of the Truman Capote Scholarship Award through IAIA, and a winner of the Native Writer Award through the Taos Summer Writers Conference. Hokeah has written for Poets & Writers, Literary Hub, World Literature Today, American Short Fiction, and elsewhere.

Penn State Great Valley strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals in our community to engage fully. The campus includes accessible and gender neutral restroom, dedicated parking spaces, elevators, lactation room, step-free access, and a complimentary wheelchair. If you require any accommodation not listed above, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Becky Stanko at rus1078@psu.edu or call 610-648-3236.