Hyperlocal Tribal Cultures in the Heartland

In this presentation, Oscar Hokeah guides the audience through the multi-voiced narrative of his novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance, which follows a young Indigenous man named Ever Geimausaddle as he navigates the complex realities of poverty, systemic injustice and historical trauma. Moving beyond the pages of the book, Hokeah connects his fiction to his 20-plus years of real-world experience as an Indian Child Welfare advocate and youth worker. He illustrates how the “blanket dance”—a traditional ceremony of community support and mutual aid—serves as a beautiful, living metaphor for how Indigenous families utilize tribal culture, ritual and collective love to heal intergenerational wounds.

This program is a masterclass in modern storytelling that challenges single-narrative stereotypes of Native communities. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of multi-tribal identities, the vital role of community in personal survival, and the enduring power of cultural resilience. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the speech.