Writing plays on Idaho's reservations

Students learn skills in playwritingStudents on both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce reservations are learning to express their thoughts and feelings at playwriting seminars. This marks the fourth year seminars have been conducted on the Coeur d’Alene reservation but the first year for the Nez Perce reservation.

Tom Kellogg is founder and artistic director for the California based Mentor Artists Playwrights Project (MAPP) and the Young Native Playwrights Initiative. These literacy programs for Native youth are conducted not only on reservations but urban areas as well. Other workshops are being held in Portland, Ore, Anchorage, Alaska, and Oakland, Calif.

Nine students, ranging in age from sixth grade to high school, recently completed the writing portion of the workshop on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Screen Shows.