JOSEPH BRUCHAC

Winner of the 2005 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award

For nearly thirty years Joseph Bruchac has been creating short stories, poetry, novels, and anthologies that reflect his Abenaki Indian heritage and Native American traditions.

He is the author of more than 100 books for children and adults. The best selling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children and others of his “Keepers” series, with its remarkable integration of science and folklore, continue to receive critical acclaim and to be used in classrooms throughout the country.

As a nationally known storyteller, his performances, including The Boy Who Lived with the Bears and Keepers of the Earth, have been recorded on audio-cassette. His work has been recognized with a score of “notable” citations and Best of the Year honors for Dawn Land, Keepers of the Earth, Thirteen Moons on a Turtle’s Back and The Winter People. He is the recipient of a Scientific American Children’s Book Award for The Story of the Milky Way and a Boston Globe/Horn Book honor for The Boy Who Lived with the Bears.

Bruchac has been recognized for the body of his work through the Cherokee Nation prose award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children’s Literature, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.

The Advisory Board of the Virginia Hamilton Conference is proud to honor Joseph Bruchac with the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for his efforts in preserving Native traditions, and bringing to the foreground issues and concerns that are important to contemporary Native cultures.

Virginia Hamilton Conference 11/04