Louise Erdrich's Blog | Birchbark Books & Native Arts

Birchbark Blog

Faces of America

Birchbark Books - Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Louise will soon be featured as one of the "12 renowned Americans" profiled in the upcoming PBS series Faces of America. Here are some video selections of Louise speaking with series host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Where are they? Birchbark Books! More video can be found on the Faces of America website.

Louise Erdrich - Faces of America, Part 1

Louise Erdrich - Faces of America, Part 2

What made America? What makes us? These two questions are at the heart of the new PBS series Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Building on the success of his series African American Lives (called by the New York Times "the most exciting and stirring documentary on any subject to appear on television in a long time,") and African American Lives 2, Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. again turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 12 renowned Americans.

The series premieres nationally Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3, 2010 from 8-9 p.m. ET on PBS.

Comments

ann laurence commented on 26-Jan-2010 04:22 PM

Indeed, Erdrich is a renowned American who asks that question about
what made us and what made Americans in her novels. That magic of her writing is in the telling of the story so we can each find our own truth.

Barbara Z commented on 31-Jan-2010 10:45 AM

Very interesting preview. I look forward to seeing the entire interview. A distinction certainly well-deserved. I do hope that Louise publishes a memoir/autobiography some day.

Mihku Paul commented on 19-Feb-2010 07:58 PM

Fantastic to see these snippets. I was struck, though, by the phrasing the interviewer used, because it was so generalized. When he asked about "Native culture" as if there is just one great big sameness of Being Native.
Of course, I agree that nearly every tribe has some commonality of worldview
and similarity of lifeways in relation to the earth and her resources, but I found it very revealing that the interviewer would be framing his questions in such a way.
I am sure that he meant no disrespect, but that brief clip told me more about him than it did about Louise.

Stephanie commented on 25-Feb-2010 01:20 AM

After watching the show tonight I was flipping through an old family reunion book and found some of Louise's ancestors. It shocked and floored me. I had no idea that some of my ancestors went down into Michigan and had some part in forming Detroit. Its amazing to think that there is sometimes not too much more than 6 degrees of seperation between strangers.

I just wish that I had been able to see the whole episode.

Anonymous commented on 26-Feb-2010 01:28 PM

Stephanie, you can watch online- pbs.org. It was a great show. That's why I'm here- looking at Louise's books.

ann commented on 09-Mar-2010 08:27 AM

Louise was great but too little of bookstore shown!!
Dare I ask? Any thoughts on Louise not taking DNA test?

James Cihlar commented on 10-Mar-2010 02:19 PM

Fascinating and enthralling. Love the comments about "not vanishing as expected" and the story of the grandfather's letter is amazing and moving.

Kathy commented on 11-Mar-2010 08:47 PM

What a pleasure to see and hear Louise speak - fascinating and eloquent. I have enjoyed all her books over the years so this was a great treat.

Rose commented on 14-Mar-2010 12:17 PM

My love affair with Louise Erdrich and the lives in her books started with LOVE MEDICINE and continues. I await her next book, interview or speaking engagement

Camile commented on 17-May-2010 11:51 AM

My son (who's 6) and I saw the full interview and it is just lovely in every way! My son really wanted to "see the Lady who wrote Omakayas". As much as I rave about Ms. Erdrich's books I think the best compliment comes from my son- every time we go outside he wants to 'play' Omakayas and Pinch/Quill. I get to be Omakayas and he pretends to be Pinch. What could be better?!

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