The South Coastal Library invites readers and community members to a thought-provoking virtual event featuring award-winning journalist and author Joseph Lee, who will discuss his debut memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.” 

The online conversation will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5th, starting promptly at 2pm. This event will offer participants a chance to explore literature themes of community, heritage, and resilience through Lee’s deeply personal narrative.

A Memoir Rooted in Land and Legacy

Lee’s book begins on Martha’s Vineyard, one of the nation’s most recognizable coastal destinations, where his own tribe, the Aquinnah Wampanoag, has lived for centuries. 

Once the ancestral home of his people, the island is now an “island paradise” for wealthier individuals, with the rising cost of living pushing many Wampanoag members off of the island. 

For Lee, this displacement symbolizes a broader struggle: the tension between cultural preservation and the pressures of modern life.

In “Nothing More of This Land,” Lee reflects on growing up Wampanoag and what it means to maintain Indigenous identity in a rapidly changing world. 

His storytelling blends history, and first person journalism, weaving together personal memories and broader cultural reflections that resonate far beyond his tribe’s borders.

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Conversations That Cross Continents

Lee’s journey takes readers far from New England’s beaches. Through interviews and encounters with Indigenous leaders, artists, and scholars across the globe, he examines how Indigenous communities navigate challenges such as:

• Land displacement and rightful ownership/belonging conflicts
• Language preservation and cultural revival
• Climate change’s impact on traditional territories
• The evolving politics of identity and belonging in changing societies 

From the Alaskan tundra to Northern California’s forests and even the halls of the United Nations, Lee’s reporting captures the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous peoples who continue to protect their lands and traditions despite systemic barriers.

These stories challenge outdated stereotypes and reveal the diversity and strength within Indigenous communities today. 

By connecting these perspectives to his own experiences, Lee paints a vivid picture of what it means to live between worlds, rooted in ancestry yet facing modern realities.

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A Voice for a New Understanding

Joseph Lee’s perspective is shaped by his unique background and career. As an Aquinnah Wampanoag writer based in New York City, he holds an MFA from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at Mercy University. 

His journalism has appeared in publications such as The Guardian, BuzzFeed, Vox, and High Country News, earning recognition for its depth and empathy throughout.

His work often examines how power, identity, and belonging intersect, a focus that has earned him fellowships with both the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and Grist, where he served as Senior Indigenous Affairs Fellow.

Through “Nothing More of This Land,” Lee invites readers to rethink their understanding of America’s history and its future, asking how communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can move toward a more equitable and inclusive vision of belonging.

How to Join 

The South Coastal Library’s online event with Joseph Lee offers an opportunity for readers to hear directly from the author about his writing process, the experiences that shaped his memoir, and his insights into Indigenous resilience and identity.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday, November 5th
• Time: 2pm
• Location: Online (registration is required)

Participants are encouraged to register in advance to secure a virtual seat and take part in the live discussion.

This event promises to be both educational and deeply moving, a reminder of how storytelling can bridge gaps in understanding and bring communities closer together.

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Continuing the Dialogue

Joseph Lee’s Nothing More of This Land is more than a memoir; it’s a call to listen, learn, and engage with the stories that shape the land we share. 

Through his writing and public conversations, Lee opens space for reflection on identity, community, and the lasting effects of colonization.

If you’re interested in literature that challenges assumptions and connects personal history to larger social questions, this online author talk is an event not to miss.

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