Bio

James Bruchac was raised in the Adirondack foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, and is the eldest son of acclaimed author and storyteller Dr. Joseph Bruchac III. A citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, James grew up immersed in storytelling, the natural world, as well as Native and Adirondack culture. While holding pride in all their relations (including their Slovak heritage), Mr Bruchac’s family draws heavily from their well-documented Native American ancestry, including Western Abenaki, Mohican, Munsee Lenape, and Mohawk descent. Two of Mr Bruchac’s most notable Indigenous ancestors include 17th-century female Sachem Catoneras (Canarsee/Munsee Lenape) and famed Mohawk translator Ots-Toch. With Native American, combined with English and Dutch colonial roots, Jim’s family line also includes multiple DAR Patriots, such as his 5th maternal great-grandfather, Colonel Timothy Bedel, a staunch 18th-century ally to the Abenaki and founder of the New Hampshire Coos Rangers. Building on his family’s legacy, combined with his own life experiences, James has spent close to four decades teaching people of all ages. From traditional stories and regional culture to animal tracking, wilderness survival, and martial arts, there is rarely a day he isn’t sharing his passions with others. (More detailed information to follow)

AUTHOR

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Drawing mostly from stories and knowledge he learned while growing up, James has both authored and co-authored books for all ages. Children’s books include How Chipmunk Got His Stripes (Dial), Turtle’s Race with Beaver, Rabbit’s Snow Dance (Dial) When the Chenoo Howls (Walker), Be Good, a True Cautionary Tale (Bowman Books), Native American Games and Stories (Fulcrum), and The Stories He Tells, The Story of Joseph Bruchac. General public titles include Scats and Tracks of the Northeast, Scats and Tracks of the Southeast, Scats, and Tracks of the Mid-Atlantic (Falcon), The Girl Who Helped Thunder, an anthology of Native American tales (Sterling), and Gluskonba And The Maple Trees. James is a member and former president of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Upcoming releases include Kids in the Woods (Bowman Books), Trails and Tales of The Grizzly, and Trails and Tales of The Wolf (Fulcrum)

STORYTELLER

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Building on his family’s tradition, for over thirty years, James has shared stories at hundreds of schools and libraries across the country. Whether telling an interactive animal story or a monster tale, he keeps listeners of all ages on the edge of their seats as well as part of the action. James has performed at many festivals, museums including the Smithsonian Discovery Theater (Washington DC), the Corn Island Storytelling Festival (KY), Noble Tales Festival and the Connor Prairie Museum (IN), Indian Summer and Riverbend Festivals (WI), The Boston Children’s Museum and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum (MA), the Hudson River Clearwater Festival, the Noteworthy Indian Museum, and The Old Songs Festival. James and other members of his family were featured on the PBS special Adirondack Storytellers (WMHT/PBS).

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL & INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGIES INSTRUCTOR

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James has conducted tracking and wilderness survival-based research in all corners of the United States and Lower Canada. He has also traveled to places such as West Africa and Central America and continues his work with John Stokes and The Tracking Project in Corrales, New Mexico. James is a graduate of the Tracking Project’s “Nurturing The Roots Community Mentor Program. Mr. Bruchac’s survival-based programs include a variety of learning experiences: primitive and modern survival techniques, animal tracking, appreciation of the natural world, and indigenous uses of natural resources. James has worked with numerous schools and organizations, including The National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife, Cornell Outdoor Education, Syracuse University Forestry School, Environmental Education Council of Ohio, SUNY Albany, Skidmore College, Miami University, Ohio Outdoor Pursuit Center, Iowa Conservation Education Council, The National Parks Service, YMCA of the Rockies, and many others. James’ wilderness prowess has also been featured on such television shows as WILD T.V on PBS, RAY MEARS ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE, Travel Channel, and the Versus 25 HARDEST ANIMALS TO HUNT. James has also appeared as a survival consultant for numerous local and National news stations, including the FOX & FRIENDS MORNING SHOW.

ANIMAL TRACKER & NATURALIST

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With his introductions to nature coming from traditional legends, including a few now featured in his books, James has spent most of his life enjoying and adding to his family’s knowledge of the natural world, especially animals. Beyond his early work with The Tracking Project, to improve his knowledge of the science of tracking, he has made many trips to Wyoming and Montana to do field research and training in advanced professional-level tracking with world-renowned tracker and naturalist, Dr. James Halfpenny. During these trips, he has tracked bison, elk, wolves, mountain lions, grizzly bears, and many other animals both big and small. Since their first introduction at a National Wildlife Summit in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1996, James Bruchac and Dr. Halfpenny have co-authored three books (Scats & Tracks Of The Northeast, Scats, and Tracks Of The Southeast, and Scats & Tracks of the Mid-Atlantic). James’s tracking skills have also been featured in National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

James is a member of The International Society of Professional Trackers (ISPT). Over the years, Mr. Bruchac has trained people of all ages and levels of expertise, from Kindergarten students to professional biologists and wildlife officials. Due to their combined dedication to the education of others about the natural world, in March of 2005, James and his father, Joseph, received a National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award. Currently, Mr is working on a new series of books for Fulcrum Publishing focusing on an interdisciplinary look at various North American Mammals, starting with books focusing on two of his favorite animals, grizzly bears and wolves.

NDAKINNA EDUCATION CENTER

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For over thirty years, James has worked with his family’s not-for-profit business, The Greenfield Review Literary Center and Press and their North American Native Authors Catalog. In 1998, James formed a new division of the Greenfield Review, The Ndakinna Education Center and Nature Preserve, offering hands-on field trips to his family’s 80+ acre nature preserve and educational center focusing on Native American history & culture as well as environmental education.

ACADEMICS / ATHLETICS

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James studied exercise science and English at Ithaca College and has a degree in American Studies from Skidmore College. Active in both high school and college athletics, Mr. Bruchac was a member of the 1988 Ithaca College National Championship football team and went on to be an Empire League Semi-pro All-Star defensive end in 1991. Inspired by his father, also a martial arts master, James has studied various arts since the age of ten, currently holding the rank of Shihan (7th-degree black belt) in Kyokushin Karate as well as being a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (3rd degree). Like James, Father Joseph, also a master of Indonesian Penjak, and brother Jesse hold black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. All three work together to run martial arts programming out of Saratoga Academy of Elite Martial Arts, located in the Ndakinna facility, and their newly opened 4800 square foot Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Saratoga Academy in nearby Wilton Mall. Still an active competitor, Mr Bruchac is an IBJJF Pan and Worlds medalist, multiple-time International Open Champion, and a 2x Pan American Nogi Champion.

CONTACT INFO: James Bruchac 23 Middle Grove Road Greenfield Center NY 12833 E-mail: me@jamesbruchac.com Text: 518-331-9962