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Voice on the Water cover

After a two-year long project, the anthology project "Voice on the Water: Great Lakes Native America Now" had its book launch on November 30, 2011, on the NMU campus.

This 254-page book illuminates the contemporary American Indian experience in Michigan. Read the Book Publication Chronicle as written by Grace Chaillier. 

Books can be purchased at the Center Store, 112 Whitman Hall;  the NMU Bookstore; or Snowbound Books, downtown Marquette. 

Contacts

Grace Chaillier - Project Editor, grachail@nmu.edu

Rebecca Tavernini - Production Editor, retavern@nmu.edu   

April Lindala - Project Director, alindala@nmu.edu

News and Public Readings

Article in Upper Peninsula's Second Wave.  

Voice on the Water Promotional Postcard

Public Readings: 

Two public readings were held to showcase the contributors work.  Participants enjoyed the spotlight as they read excerpts from the book.

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, the first reading was held on the NMU campus in Marquette, Michigan.  Thirteen of the 88 contributors participated, along with over 100 guests in the audience and a live stream across the internet.  

View photo highlights from Jamrich Hall.  

Watch the NMU recording of the public reading

On Friday, December 2, 2011, Grace, April, and Shirley traveled to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to join eleven other contributors in a public reading at the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways.  We are grateful to the Native American Programs at Central Michigan University for their assistance with the refreshments. 


 

Student Work

While the work of several NMU students was accepted for publication in the anthology, numerous Northern students also played integral roles in the publishing process of Voice on the Water.  From the early stages of organizing and preparing accepted manuscripts and artwork, through post-publication marketing, these students did: 

  • copy editing
  • proofreading and fact checking
  • compiled a glossary of term
  •  researched and created a map of Michigan Indian tribes
  • drew professional-quality artwork used as chapter dividers and text enhancements
  • designed the book's cover
  • presented their work to a committee
  • learned about the electronic layout and press printing process
  • researched and compiled marketing mailing lists; created a wide array of marketing materials including postcards, bookmarks, rack cards, multimedia advertisements and posters
  • helped coordinate and present book launch and reading events. 

This hands-on experience provided them with not only excellent resume building skills and preparation for future careers in many fields but also demonstrated how large projects are handled in a collaborative manner.