Joseph Bruchac

“Kill every enemy twice, Wilky said. Better than gettin' shot by a soldier pretending to be dead.”

“I don't recall exactly when I first began reading about Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery, but I suspect that it was in fourth grade.”

“I grew up in the small town of Greenfield Center, New York, which is in the foothills of the Adirondacks not far from the city of Saratoga Springs. It is a place I love, close to the forests and the mountains.”

“From my teenage years on, I sought out Native elders from many tribal nations and listened to their words. I also started a small press, The Greenfield Review Press, and became very involved with publishing the work of other American Indian authors, especially books of poetry.”

“I think every writer will tell you that their characters are always partially themselves: who I am and what I've experienced. It's always there in part of my characters.”

“The Trail of Tears has a great deal of meaning for every person of American Indian ancestry, whether they are Cherokee or not. For me, it has always stood for what is best and worst about the history of the United States.”

“We need to walk to know sacred places, those around us and those within. We need to walk to remember the songs.”

“At a time when Europeans already had a long history of violent contact with Native people, Lewis and Clark made most of their journey in peace.”

“I think I always knew I would be a writer some day, but it wasn't until I was grown and had children of my own that I turned to telling Native American stories.”

“Never think that war is a good thing, grandchildren. Though it may be necessary at times to defend our people, war is a sickness that must be cured. War is a time out of balance. When it is truly over, we must work to restore peace and sacred harmony once again.”