February 5, 2009 Issue
Native American Musician, Artist Bill Miller at ASU February 18
Native American, Grammy Award-winning musician and artist Bill Miller will present a free public lecture on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. at ASU. Photo by Candy Chapman
The next speaker in Appalachian State University’s Diversity Lecture Series is Bill Miller, a Grammy Award-winning musician, artist and Native American. Miller presents a talk titled A Native American Story of Race and Reconciliation on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. in I.G. Greer Auditorium on the ASU campus.
The ASU Office of Multicultural Student Development presents the Diversity Lecture Series.
Miller was born to Mohican-German parents on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in Northern Wisconsin. His Indian name, Fush-Ya Heay Ka, means “bird song.” He learned traditional native songs at an early age and received his first guitar at age 12. Miller played in teen rock bands for a few years, but he soon grew tired of it and traded his electric guitar for an acoustic. He began to play folk music and bluegrass and became a master of the Native American flute.
While studying art in college, Miller decided to move to Nashville to pursue a career in singing and songwriting. Early on, he often encountered racism because of his Native American heritage, but he persevered. He wrote songs with Nancy Griffith, Peter Rowan and Kim Carnes and shared the bill with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, the BoDeans, Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie and Tori Amos.
Miller suffered setbacks, including battles with alcoholism and family tragedy, but he continued to grow as a singer, writer and performer.
His discography includes the albums Loon Mountain And Moon (1991), Red Road (1994), Reservation Road, Raven In The Snow (1995), Ghost Dance (1999) and The Art Of Survival (2000). His 2005 album Cedar Dream Songs won the Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album.
In his speech, Miller will present stories that explain the symbolism and meanings in Native American art, music, spiritual teachings and lifeways.
“His own journey offers a rare window into life on a reservation, learning about the past of his people, dealing with a family member’s alcohol abuse, and living the struggle to reconcile the past,” the Multicultural Student Development website said. “Audience members will come away with a keen insight and appreciation for Native culture, history and challenges, equipped with some new skills for addressing the physical, social and mental wounds that sometimes prevent forgiveness and reconciliation.”
The lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is available free of charge in the new parking deck next to the library after 5:00 p.m. For more info, call 828-262-6252.
Want To Go?
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: I.G. Greer Auditorium, ASU
Cost: Free
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