Augsburg News

News Archives - 1996

Louise Erdrich to give benefit reading at Augsburg College

Event proceeds go to American Indian groups promoting non-violence

Dec. 26, 1996

Author Louise Erdrich will give a benefit reading from her work including her most recent novel, "Tales of Burning Love" at Augsburg College on Jan. 9. Erdrich's sister Heid, a newly published author, will also read from her writings. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center, corner of 22nd Avenue and Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis.

Funds raised from the benefit will go to Peta Wakan Tipi, a nonprofit serving homeless and recovering American Indian women and men; and Strong Hearts of the Circle, a neighborhood collaborative working to reduce violence in the Native American community. Organizers of the benefit event say they hope it will help raise awareness of violence prevention efforts and transitional housing for chemically-free American Indians.

In addition to her reading, Louise Erdrich will talk about her writing journey, answer questions from the audience and sign copies of her books, which will be on sale at a reception following the reading. As a further benefit to Peta Wakan Tipi and Strong Hearts of the Circle, a silent auction of American Indian crafts will be held during the reception.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the door or by sending a check (made to "Peta Wakan Tipi") by Jan. 6 to Deb Hutterer, College Relations Office, Campus Box #145, Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454. For more information on the event, call (612) 330-1180 or e-mail huttered@augsburg.edu.

A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa, Louise Erdrich has written five previous novels: "Love Medicine," "The Beet Queen," "Tracks," "The Bingo Palace" and "The Crown of Columbus," which she wrote with her husband, the writer Michael Dorris; two collections of poetry; a children's book, "Grandmother's Pigeon;" and her first nonfiction work, "The Blue Jay's Dance," a memoir of motherhood. Her fiction has been honored by the National Book Critics Circle, and several of her short stories have been selected for O. Henry Awards and for inclusion in the annual Best American Short Story anthologies.