American Indian storytelling conference set

American Indian storytellers from North and South America will gather Feb. 22-23 on campus as the American Indian Studies Program hosts the third annual American Indian Storytelling Festival.

This event, in collaboration with the Folklore Program and the Latin American and Iberian Studies Program, will feature evening storytelling beginning at 7 p.m. in Morphy Hall, 2320 Humanities.

Storytellers will include Tito Medina and Daniel Morales (both Maya Quiche), Larry Beardy (Ojibwe), Jesse Deiter (Plains Cree), Norma Jamieson (Oneida), Bernadine Talmadge (Ho-Chunk) and Marie Worthington Floring (Menominee).

Conference organizer Roberta Hill, UW–Madison associate professor of English, calls the centuries-old tradition “a vital art in our communities. It has healing power. The festival will be a rare opportunity for members of the larger university and Madison community to take part.”

During the day, educators involved in revitalizing and maintaining Native languages will discuss language preservation strategies in their communities. Members of the Menominee, Navajo and Cherokee nations, among others, will talk about their experiences. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. in the Red Gym, 716 Langdon St.

The festival and conference are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the UW–Madison American Indian Studies Program, (608) 263-5501.