New Gwich'in storybook tells of first contact

November 26, 2019

University Relations

Hishinlai’ Peter will read and discuss her new Gwich'in book, "Tł’oo Thał / Grass Pants," at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the Alaska Native Language Center office on the fourth floor of the Brooks Building.

"Tł’oo Thał" tells the story of a Gwich’in man who is taken away by the first white men he meets. He learns English and later returns to his home, where he becomes the first Alaska Native person to own a store. The story was collected by Katherine Peter, a well-known Gwich’in writer, and annotated by her daughter, Hishinlai’ Peter, who teaches Gwich’in at the Alaska Native Language Center. The book is illustrated by Putt Clark.

Peter's book was published by the ANLC, which is part of UAF’s College of Liberal Arts.

For more information, contact Siri Tuttle at 474-5708 or sgtuttle@alaska.edu.