Greg Sarris facts for kids

Gregory Michael Sarris (born in 1952) is an important leader, writer, and teacher. He is the Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a Native American tribe in California. He has held this role since 1992. Greg Sarris also helps lead the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, which is a museum dedicated to Native American cultures.

For many years, he was a professor at Sonoma State University. There, he taught about Native American Literature and creative writing. He is also known for his books, especially Grand Avenue. This book is a collection of short stories about modern Native American life. It was even made into a TV miniseries by HBO!

Early Life and Learning

Greg Sarris was adopted when he was a baby. He had a challenging childhood and lived with different families. When he was 12, he met a special Pomo basket weaver named Mabel McKay. She taught him a lot about American Indian traditions and customs. Meeting Mabel McKay helped Greg find his path and purpose in life.

School Days and Higher Education

Greg went to Santa Rosa High School and then Santa Rosa Junior College. He worked hard and later went to UCLA, where he earned a degree in English.

He continued his studies at Stanford University. There, he earned two more advanced degrees: a master's degree in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature.

A Career of Teaching and Leadership

Greg Sarris has had a busy career as a professor, writer, and tribal leader.

Teaching and Writing Roles

• He taught English at UCLA for many years.
• He was a "writer in residence" at several colleges, meaning he was a visiting writer who shared his knowledge.
• He became a special professor of Native American Studies at Sonoma State University in 2005.
• He also worked as a consultant for TV shows about California Indians.

Leading His Tribe

Since 1992, Greg Sarris has been the Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. He has been elected to this important position many times. He also serves on the board of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Working for Tribal Recognition

In the early 1990s, Greg Sarris worked very hard to help the Coast Miwok and Pomo Native Americans gain official recognition as a tribe. This was a huge effort!

He helped write a special law called the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act. This law was signed by President Clinton in 2000. It officially recognized the tribe as a federally recognized tribe. This meant the tribe could get land for their reservation in their traditional territory.

Books by Greg Sarris

Greg Sarris is a talented writer who has published many books.

Novels

• Watermelon Nights: A Novel (1998)

Short Story Collections

• How A Mountain Was Made (2017)
• Grand Avenue (1994)
• The Sound of Rattles and Clappers: A Collection of New California Indian Writing (1994) - He edited this book and also wrote parts of it.
• Becoming Story (2022)
• The Forgetters: Stories (2024)

Nonfiction Books

• Keeping Slug Woman Alive: A Holistic Approach to American Indian Texts (1993)
• Mabel McKay: Weaving the Dream (1994) - This book is about the Pomo basket weaver who taught him so much.

Film and Theater Work

Greg Sarris has also worked in film and theater, bringing Native American stories to a wider audience.

• Grand Avenue (1996): This was a TV miniseries based on his short story collection. It won many awards, including Best Picture at several film festivals.
• He wrote a play called Mission Indians (2001).
• He helped produce a TV series about American literature called American Passages.
• A play called Citizen, based on one of his stories, was produced in 2023 and received good reviews.

Awards and Achievements

Greg Sarris has received many awards for his work as a leader, writer, and educator.

• He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020, which is a great honor.
• He has received awards for his philanthropy (giving back to the community) and leadership.
• He won awards for his teaching, including the Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching from Stanford University.
• His book Grand Avenue won several "Best Read" awards.
• He was named California Indian Writer of the Year in 2000.
• He received a Humanitarian Award from the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.
• Sonoma State University will give him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Greg Sarris para niños

• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas