HOW A MOUNTAIN WAS MADE Benefit Performance for North Bay Fire Relief Announced

Inspired by tales of his Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo ancestors, author and Tribal Chair of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Greg Sarris tells 16 interconnected stories in his recently released book, How a Mountain Was Made, published by HeyDey Press.

The performance at Z Space dramatizes two of Sarris' tales: "How Waterbug Walked Away with Copeland Creek" and "How Tom Smith Caused the 1906 Earthquake," and stars Bay Area actors, Gendell Hing-Hernandez, Lisa Hori-Garcia, Dan Wolf, and Siobhan Doherty. As directed by Word for Word Charter Member Nancy Shelby, the actors play a variety of animals, incorporating dance, music, and extraordinary, original masks, created by local artist John Daniel and inspired by Pomo basket design.

Adults and children of all ages will be captivated by these tales, and there will be interactive activities, including a book signing by Greg Sarris, in the Z Space lobby before and after the shows.

Proceeds from both performances will benefit North Bay fire relief, as the stories in How A Mountain Was Made take place in North Bay locales, like Sonoma Mountain, that were recently ravaged by fire. Support our neighbors to the north as they recover from devastation, while discovering the Native cultures of California and their deep respect for the natural world that they hold sacred.

Tickets for adults are $17 and $12 for children 5 to 12 years.

Greg Sarris is currently serving his thirteenth term as Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. He holds the Graton Rancheria Endowed Chair in Writing and Native American Studies at Sonoma State University, and his publications include Keeping Slug Woman Alive: A Holistic Approach to American Indian Texts(1993), Grand Avenue (1994), and Watermelon Nights (1999). Greg lives and works in Sonoma County. Visit his website at www.greg-sarris.com.