Acclaimed Author and Radio Host Thomas King to Give Free Talk at CWU Tonight

October 5, 2009

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Canadian author Thomas King, probably best known for his novel, “Medicine River,” will speak tonight at the Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) Ballroom. His talk kicks off the 2009-2010 Central Washington University Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series.

King, of Greek and Cherokee descent, has spent his career focusing on the social issues of Native Canadian Indians. He’s used his own heritage as a vehicle for spurring social dialog on issues such as economics, culture and stereotypes.

Before running for office, King wrote and hosted a popular Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio show, “Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour.” The series ran for several years and was hard for him quit, he told the New York Times.

“One of the things that I most regret is that I had to give up ‘Dead Dog’ in order to run for office,” he said in a 2008 interview. “I really thought with ‘Dead Dog’ that I was helping to save the world in some small way. But you’re never sure how much you’re doing.”

King ran for a seat in the House of Commons in 2008 but lost by a large margin. “His decision to run for a seat in the House of Commons … is, in an American context, about as predictable as Garrison Keillor abandoning Lake Wobegon for a shot at Congress,” wrote New York Times reporter Ian Austen.

While spending much of his professional career as a writer, King has also worked as a photojournalist and professor. In 2004, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada — one of the highest civilian honors a person can receive in Canada. It is given to those who have displayed lifelong achievement.

He’s also authored several other books, including “The Truth About Stories,” “Truth and Bright Water,” “One Good Story,” “That One” and “The Native in Literature: Canadian and Comparative Perspectives.”

His talk begins at 7:30 p.m. The talk is free, but tickets are required to attend and can be reserved by calling 509-963-1301 or visiting www.cwu.edu/~wildcattickets. To learn more about the series, go to www.cwu.edu/president/series. The next show to follow King will be Grammy Award-nominated Imani Winds on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Media contact: Teri Olin, Public Relations and Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of placebound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.