Hear Chicora read aloud
Delora Cummings, the illustrator of Chicora and the Little People: The Legend of the Indian Corn, reads the book cover to cover in this “Book from the Nook” video from the Museum of the Southeast American Indian.
Press play, turn the sound up, and gather the kids.
A story readers can't put down
Your book's synopsis goes right here — two or three sentences that hook the reader and make the next click irresistible. This is the single most valuable piece of copy on the whole site.
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Every book, one shelf
The person behind the pages
Arvis Boughman is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, dedicated to the preservation and sharing of Native American culture, history, and storytelling. His life’s work has centered on cultural preservation for the Lumbee people and other Native Nations, ensuring that traditional knowledge, language, and stories continue to live on for future generations.
Arvis is an elementary school teacher and a speech-language pathologist who serves both children and adults. Throughout his career, he has worked with individuals from diverse Native communities, including Canadian First Nations, Lumbee, Eastern Band of Cherokee, and Sioux, fostering cross-cultural understanding and respect.
In 2003, he coauthored Herbal Remedies of the Lumbee Indians with Loretta Oxendine. He later authored several works that preserve and celebrate Native storytelling traditions, including Chicora and the Little People: The Legend of the Indian Corn (2010) and Legends of the Lumbee and Some That Will Be (2013), a collection of ancestral stories. His additional works include How the Oceans Came to Be and How the Rabbit Tricked the Buzzards. He has collaborated with noted Native artists, including Lakota illustrator Alfreda Beartrack-Algeo and Cherokee illustrator Mary Beth Timothy, bringing these stories vividly to life.
Beyond his writing, Arvis has been deeply involved in educational and cultural initiatives. He co-organized the North Carolina Indian Unity Conference Writing Contest and has served as a judge for over seven years. He is also a founding member of the North Carolina Native American Council on Higher Education (NCNACOHE). In his ongoing efforts to preserve language, he is assisting in translating Christian hymns, including Amazing Grace, into the Cheraw dialect, honoring the traditional language of his ancestors.
A committed advocate, Arvis has long supported full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, working to raise awareness and promote justice for his people.
Earlier in his journey, Arvis had the opportunity to work alongside Native actors during the filming of The Last of the Mohicans, where he met Russell Means, a prominent Lakota activist. He was also fortunate to develop a friendship with Dennis Banks, a respected leader of the American Indian Movement. These experiences further deepened his commitment to Native advocacy and cultural preservation.
In his personal life, Arvis enjoys reading the Bible, fishing, woodcarving, horseback riding, gardening, studying folklore, spending time with family, attending powwows, and listening to old-time and bluegrass music. He currently resides in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Word travels
“I told myself one more chapter. Three hours later the sun was coming up.”
“The kind of storytelling that stays with you long after the last page.”
“Bought one for myself and three more as gifts. Says everything.”
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