January 12, 2024 Edition
Shi Yazhi Sage Gallery in (Old Town) Albuquerque, N.M. is hosting a book signing for Anna Lee Walters and Harry Walters on April 27, 2024 from 12:00p.m. to 4 p.m.
The "Soje" Story
This is a website for Native American writer, Anna Lee Walters, of the Pawnee and Otoe-Missouria people. Here she shares information about her new works. (She writes most of content for this website.) She also publishes other Native American writers who live in remote communities. (All the writers and other artists seen here still retain rights to their own works, so please apply Fair Use law when accessing their materials.) Soje (pronounced So-jay) in the Otoe-Missouria language means smoke, which has several connotations for Native American people.
What's new?
Now - "Lizette's Passion"
There has been a change in the Menu. Try the new tab for Tribal Language and go to New Release for a preview of a new novel.
Manto Thewe Videos—Watch Now!!
The following videos can be accessed on this page or through the Soje Channel on You Tube. Manto Thewe Videos is part of Soje oral storytelling. Also, changes are forthcoming on the Soje Channel.
Poetry—Symbolism
This video is a part of the Veterans' Stories series. It tells the true story of an Otoe-Missouria soldier during WWII and how he received his name. He was a student at Chilocco Indian School when he entered the war about the age of 17.
Poetry—Experimental
"Mother Earth and Father Sky: Teachings" is told by Navajo historian and philosopher, Harry Walters. Viewed it here or on the Soje Channel of You Tube. This video has been viewed more than 3300 times on this website and You Tube. A forthcoming five- minute video on the story of the Salt Clan of the Navajo also told by Harry Walters will be available here soon.
"Chagre Wakan, Sacred Shield" is a modern-day story about spiritual and mystical experiences in the tradition of the Plains people.
Gems
Check out these books dealing with Native people. See what you think!
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"No Dogs or Indians, a Novel" by Lisa Hare was published in 2016.
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"The Navajo in Their Different Genius; Living a Long Life in Beauty Has Its Own Reward," by Jennifer Kitchell and Harry Walters, 2023, is a work of non-fiction covering a wide range of topics.
Literature from the Past
From The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge, Sources of Life by P.V. Beck, et al 8, Navajo Community College Press, 1977
Most Native Americans share the follow six concepts:
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A belief in or knowledge of unseen powers or what some people call the Great Mystery
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Knowledge that all things in the universe are dependent on each other.
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Personal worship reinforces the bond between the individual, community, and the great powers. Worship is a personal commitment to the sources of life.
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Sacred traditions and persons knowledgeable in sacred traditions are responsible for teaching morals and ethics.
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Most communities and tribes have trained practitioners who have been given names such as medicine men, priests, shamans, caciques, and other names. These individuals also have titles given them by The People which differ from tribe to tribe. These individuals are responsible for specialized, perhaps secret knowledge. They help pass knowledge and sacred practices from generation to generation, storing what they know in memories.
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A belief that humor is a necessary part of the sacred. And a belief that human beings are often weak—we are not gods—and our weakness leads us to do foolish things; therefore clowns and similar figures are needed to show us how we act and why.
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What's your story?
Photo by Meisha Walters © 2022
To submit work for publishing consideration, please use the Contact form at the bottom of page. Do not send work on first contact. Please inquire first. The process is: Inquiry, Review, Editing, and Publishing. To request quotes for other purposes, use the contact form at the bottom of page. Inquire first. Poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction are sought for this website. We offer a publishing agreement and payment for original and creative work, but the work must go through the process described above. The perspective here should be direct Native People insight. The work is shared online at no cost to website readers.
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Citation Information (Add date accessed):
APA, Seventh Edition, Website
Native American Literature/Soje Publishing. (n.d.-b). Soje Publishing: https://www.sojepublishing.com/
MLA, 8, Website
Walters, Anna L. “Native American Literature.” Soje Publishing, www.sojepublishing.com
Quote from Wolfkiller
"It is ourselves that we must control."
(As told and recorded by Louisa Wetherill, page 40, published by Gibbs Smith, 2007.)
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Please order "A Remembrance of the Earth—Maya Suje Mi..." from https://www.shiyazhisage.com
Please order Ghost Singer from University of New Mexico Press.