Nas'Naga facts for kids

Nas'Naga (born April 13, 1941 – died July 7, 2012) was the pen-name of Roger W. Russell. A pen-name is a special name a writer uses instead of their real name. Roger Russell was an American writer, poet, and artist. He was one of the first writers to have his work published in the Harper & Row Native American Publishing series.

Early Life and Education

Roger Russell was born in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Bill and Kitty Russell, had Scots and Shawnee heritage. He went to public schools in his hometown. Later, he studied at Texas Christian University. There, he met Dr. Don Worcester, who encouraged him to start writing.

Russell also served in the United States Navy. He was in the Navy from 1959 to 1963.

Writing Career

Roger Russell wrote a young adult novel called Indians' Summer. It was published in 1975. This book was part of the Harper & Row Native American Publishing series. He used his Shawnee pen-name, Nas'Naga, for this book.

The novel tells a story about different Native American nations. These include the Sioux, Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Mohawk. In the story, they declare their own independence. They create a new nation called Anishinabe-Waki, which means "Land of the People." The book explores ideas about Native American self-governance. It also shows the spirit of political action from the 1970s.

In 1979, Russell also published two books of poetry. He used his Nas'Naga pen-name for these as well.

Community Work

Besides writing, Roger Russell was also a community activist in Columbus, Ohio. He was proud of his family's Shawnee background. He used his writing, including articles and poems, to support Native American causes. He also drew pictures related to these themes. He gave talks about important issues facing Native Americans today.

Recognition

Roger Russell was recognized for his work. He was included in the Marquis Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. These books list important people from different fields.

See also

• Native American Renaissance
• Native American Studies
• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas