Retired surgeon, writings featured in bulletin

Those familiar with Native American history, especially that of the Pacific Northwest, know the name Robert H. Ruby. The retired Moses Lake surgeon, either alone or in partnership with John A. Brown, has written a number of historical studies of Native American culture with titles such as “The Spokane Indians: Children of the Sun” (University of Oklahoma Press, 1970); “Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History” (University of Oklahoma Press, 1988); and, with Brown, “Indian Slavery in the Pacific Northwest” (Arthur H. Clark, 1993).

But if you want to know more about Ruby himself, then pick up a copy of the November Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. Ruby is featured in an article titled, straightforwardly enough, “Surgeon chronicles Native American history.”

As the story points out, though, Ruby is more than simply a historian seeking original sources. He has actively attempted to redress what he sees as injustices done to various tribes and individuals, such as trying to earn exoneration for the five Cayuse braves who were responsible for the 1847 killings of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.

According to the article, Ruby claims the Whitman attack “was not a rampant crime spree but the first salvo in a two-year war between the Cayuse nation and American troops that ended with the loss of independence of the Cayuse people.”

Furthermore, Ruby contends that the five Cayuse “were not wanton murderers but victims of terrorism fomented by … mixed-blood bullies” who blamed white settlers in general for stealing Cayuse land, and the Whitmans in particular for giving the Indians medicine that, they claimed, was poison that caused measles.

Most of all, the article says that Ruby and Brown’s main objective was to write books that spoke to the average reader.

“Few academic books about American Indians have been written for the general public,” Ruby says. “Anthropologists and archaeologists have done extensive studies and published work in journals, but the average person doesn’t read those things.”

To download a PDF file of the article, go to www.facs.org/fellows_info/bulletin/2005/sandrick1105.pdf

Get Lit! up

Along with announcing the headliners for next year’s event, the folks behind Get Lit! – the Eastern Washington University Press’ annual literary arts festival – will be making their presence felt at First Night, the annual arts celebration held New Year’s Eve in downtown Spokane.

Those headliners, which include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson, poet Yusef Komunyakaa and Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl, will join an as-yet unnamed fourth guest during the festival, which will be held April 20 through 23 at The Met.

But long before those dates, Get Lit! will offer a series of First Night readings at the Holley-Mason Building, 157 S. Howard St. According to the printed schedule, the lineup will be as follows: 7 p.m., John Keeble; 7:30 p.m., Greg Spatz; 8 p.m., Jonathan Johnson; 8:30 p.m., Laurie Lamon; 9 p.m., Jess Walter; 9:30 p.m., Sam Ligon; 10 p.m., Shannon Amidon; 10:30 p.m., Paul Lindholdt; and 11 p.m., Tod Marshall.

For further information, go to www.firstnightspokane.org. Or call 252-5027.

Seniors news

Registration is under way for winter quarter classes offered through the seniors program of the Institute for Extended Learning.

Among the classes aimed at the literary crowd are writing workshops taught by Lisa Conger, Anne Selcoe and Virginia White. For more information, call 533-4756.

Taking office

Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers recently elected a new board of officers. They include Barbara Cagle, president; Jackie Forney, vice president; Gene Ambacher, secretary; Mike Hinz, treasurer; Julie Hart, historian; Cynthia Duryea, table decorator; and Al Chidester, Web master.

SASP, which actively seeks new members, meets on the first Thursday of each month at Old Country Buffet, 5504 N. Division. For more information, call 951-7300.

The reader board

“Joe Kamps (“The Foxhole Angel”), signing, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Coeur d’Alene Hastings, 101 E. Best Ave. (208-664-0464).