Perpich News
Authors Thomas Peacock and Betsy Albert-Peacock Present in Native Authors Series
October 9, 2024
Perpich Center for Arts Education welcomed Thomas Peacock and Betsy Albert-Peacock as the first presenters in the second year of the Native Authors & Artists Series hosted by Perpich’s Professional Development and Resource Programs (PDR). The Peacocks’ presentation was on October 8, 2024. The series of guest speakers is specifically designed to introduce K-12 educators and librarians to books by Dakota and Ojibwe authors and illustrators. Each gathering features an interview and Q&A with a guest presenter, resource lists, and includes time in the Perpich Library to peruse our extensive collection of books by Native authors.
Thomas Peacock and Betsy Albert-Peacock were interviewed by Kristi Johnson, Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP) Specialist. “It was an incredible honor getting to know and interview Betsy Albert-Peacock and Thomas Peacock”, said Johnson. “They are a writing and publishing powerhouse! The depth of their catalogue and support of other Indigenous authors is an amazing resource for educators and schools across the state and beyond.”
Dr. Wendy Barden, Director of PDR, said, “What a great way to learn about Ojibwe culture and teachings. We loved listening to Betsy and Tom talk about the personal stories on which many of their books are based.”
As they were leaving, many of the evening’s attendees commented they would be back in November to hear award-winning author, Marcie Rendon. She will be our guest at the Native Authors & Artists Series on November 19, 2024, 5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thomas Peacock is co-owner and publisher of Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing, specializing in Native children’s books written by Native authors. He received both his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership from Harvard University. He has authored or co-authored The Forever Story, Collected Wisdom, Ojibwe We Look in All Directions, The Good Path, The Seventh Generation, The Four Hills of Life, To Be Free, The Tao of Nookomis, Beginnings: The Homeward Journey of Donovan Manypenny, The Forever Sky, and The Dancers. Ojibwe and The Good Path were Minnesota Book Award winners. The Seventh Generation was a multicultural children’s book of the year (American Association of Multicultural Education). The Forever Sky received a Kirkus starred review (April 2019). The Wolf’s Trail (Holy! Cow Press) will be released in May 2020. He is a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabe Ojibwe and lives with his wife, Betsy, in Little Sand Bay, Red Cliff, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Albert-Peacock is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. A graduate of University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD), Albert-Peacock was a faculty member in the Education Department of UMD for 18 years and is now retired. She and her husband own Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing. She loves writing books for children and reading to them. Her books include: Hummingbird and the Little People, Firefly and the Boarding School, Four Hills of Life for Children, Black Bears and Blueberries (Dakota and Ojibwe versions), Little Dandelion, Dancing on Wild Rice, and Makoons. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota and Bayfield, Wisconsin with her husband, Tom.
Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing focuses on fiction and non-fiction books by Native authors and illustrated by Native artists.
View a list of books by Betsy Albert-Peacock and Thomas Peacock here.