West Virginia University’s Native American Studies Program will host 2015 elder-in-residence Charlie Soap, longtime community development leader and producer of the film “The Cherokee Word for Water” March 30- April 2.

Soap was the husband and community development partner of the late Cherokee Nation chief Wilma Mankiller, and it was the couple’s leadership on the Bell Waterline Project that inspired the film.

A screening of “The Cherokee Word For Water and talk will take place at 6 pm Wednesday, April 1 in room G20 in Ming Hsieh Hall on the Downtown Campus.

A full-blood bilingual Cherokee, Soap has a bachelor’s degree in education from Northeastern State University. He served in the United States Navy from l965-l969, and received an honorable discharge. Soap has dedicated his entire career working to strengthen the many Cherokee communities.

Soap has received numerous awards, including the Common Cause Public Service Achievement Award, and two National Certificates of Merit from the Department of Housing and Development. He has lectured on community development at Cornell University, Arizona State University Law School, the University of Maryland, Tufts University, Indiana State University and the Mayo Clinic.

During his week in Morgantown, Soap will guest lecture in history and Native American Studies classes and meet with students and faculty.

Soap’s residence is made possible through the Carolyn Reyer Visiting Lectureship Program for Native American Studies and is co-sponsored by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the department of history.

For more information, check out the program online at http://www.nas.wvu.edu or on Facebook by searching “WVU Native American Studies Program” or contact Bonnie Brown, at 304-293-4626 or BonnieM.Brown.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

jm/03/16/15

CONTACT: Devon Copeland, Director of Marketing and Communication, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, 304-293-6867, Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu

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