The Prairie Gate Literary Festival (PGLF) will be held October 6-8, 2022 at the University of Minnesota Morris.
The festival aims to build the role of the literary arts in Morris and the surrounding community. Aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts are invited to enjoy free public readings as well as workshops and discussions with nationally and internationally recognized authors.
The focus will be on Native North American and Indigenous culture as seen through first peoples writing. Featured Indigenous authors include Walter LaBatte, Thomas Peacock, Teresa Peterson, Gwen Nell Westerman and Joshua Whitehead.
- Thomas Peacock, a Minnesota Book Award winner, is the author of a dozen books on Ojibwe history and culture, Native education, racism, and fiction.
- Gwen Nell Westerman is the current poet laureate of Minnesota.
- Joshua Whitehead is a two-spirit poet and novelist from Canada.
- Teresa Peterson and Walter LaBatte are co-authors of Voices from Pejuhutazizi: Dakota Stories and Storytellers. Peterson is an alum of UMN Morris.
Authors will be participating in public readings, panel discussions and free Craft Talk Workshops. All events will be held in Briggs Library.
For more information please visit Prairie Gate Literary Festival where you will find a detailed festival schedule, author bios, and workshop details. Pre-registration is encouraged.
The Prairie Gate Literary Festival is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Additional support comes from the Rodney A. Briggs Library Associates, the Commission on Women, the Office of Equity & Diversity, the Native American Student Success Program, Briggs Library, and the Prairie Island Indian Community.