Influential, honorable and remarkable are words used to describe writer and poet Ray A. Young Bear, one of the 1996 Veishea parade grand marshals.

“He is a man of immense integrity, said Iowa State English professor Steve Pett.

“Ray’s first language is Meskwaki,” he said. “It’s quite astounding that he’s made himself a great writer in English.”

The poetry and prose of Young Bear have appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Virginia Quarterly, The Kenyon Review and Harper’s Anthology of 20th Century of Witness Anthology.

Young Bear, a lifetime member of the Meskwaki (Red Earth) Tribal Settlement, has contributed to the field and study of contemporary Native American literature for the past 23 years.

Pett, who has known Young Bear for about 10 years, said one of the reasons the ISU community wanted to invite the poet may be that he is “a prominent American writer and a preeminent Native American.”

The theme of this year’s Veishea is “Continuing Iowa’s Heritage.”

“He’s not only an outstanding member of the Meskwaki tribe, he’s an outstanding Iowan,” said Veishea co-chair Shellee Novotny.

This is not the first time Young Bear has been involved with ISU. He has taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Eastern Washington, ISU and the University of Iowa.

In 1992, Young Bear published Black Eagle Child, which received “glowing reviews,” Pett said.

He is currently working on his third novel, Remnants of the First Earth, and another collection of verses, The Rock Island Hiking Club.

Young Bear will speak at the Veishea Sesquicentennial Celebration April 20 at 10:30 a.m. south of the Campanile.