Native North American Spirituality" Subject of March 1 Lecture

SALISBURY, MD---Ed (Eagle Man) McGaa, an Oglala Sioux and author of Mother Earth Spirituality (Harper/Collins, 1990, now in its 22nd printing), discusses "Native North American Spirituality" on Wednesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. at Salisbury State University.

The lecture, part of the spring semester lecture series "Broadening the Conversation: Listening to Spiritual Perspectives," is in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. Admission is free and the public is invited.

McGaa served in Korea as a Marine corporal, earned a bachelor's degree at St. John's (MN) University and rejoined the Marines to become a fighter pilot in Vietnam, earning the rank of Captain. Upon his return, he studied Native American spirituality and participated in the Sun Dance. He earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota and has published novels and books on Native American spirituality.

McGaa characterizes "Native North American Spirituality" as "a humanitarian belief system that has been environmentally respected for millenniums." He will explain the lifestyle of a people, the Oglala Sioux, who kept their portion of the planet environmentally stable generation after generation, "avoiding problems that modern Americans face daily.

"Come and listen," said McGaa, "to a culture, a spirituality and a history of the last major tribe to come into dominant society and preserved their rich culture which is closely associated with the Creator's Nature. Learn that Nature is to be revered and respected and that it indeed does have answers to a more humanitarian, beneficial and positive lifestyle."

In addition to Mother Earth Spirituality McGaa is the author of Red Cloud, Biography of an Indian Chief (Dillon Press, Mpls., 1972), Rainbow Tribe (Harper/Collins, 1992), Native Wisdom-- Perceptions of the Natural Way (Four Directions Publ., Mpls., 1995) and his latest book, a Sioux novel, Eagle Vision--Return of the Hoop, the story of his tribe's struggle to preserve their culture, ceremony and religion.

For more information on McGaa's presentation or for a complete listing of cultural events at SSU this spring, please contact the Salisbury State Public Relations Office at 410-543- 6030.