ALBUQUERQUE, NM-Emmett Garcia, internationally-renowned children's book author, is helping to share the art of Native American storytelling among future generations. Garcia recently completed a "Giving Back to the Community" project in which he traveled throughout New Mexico and performed storytelling to students and children at schools and nonprofit organizations.

"It is my goal to help keep our oral tradition alive by sharing it with our youth," said Emmett Garcia, award-winning author of "Coyote and the Sky" and "Sister Rabbit's Tricks." "Through my presentations, I hope to not only spread awareness of Native American history and stories that have been lost throughout the centuries, but also inspire and encourage children and young adults to read books, and perhaps even become authors and storytellers themselves."

Throughout his "Giving Back to the Community" project, Garcia traveled around New Mexico and presented at Vista Grande Elementary in Rio Rancho; Tohatchi Elementary School in Tohatchi; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque; San Felipe Headstart Program on the Pueblo of San Felipe; P'oe Tsawa Community Library in Ohkay Owingeh; Santa Fe Public School-Native American Student Services in Santa Fe; Hoaku Learning Center on the Pueblo of Acoma; St. Joseph's Indian School in San Fidel; Northern New Mexico College in Espanola; St. Mary's Catholic School in Albuquerque; and Laguna Public Library on the Pueblo of Laguna.

Garcia, a member of the Santa Ana pueblo, has performed music and presented Native American storytelling at international events and prestigious venues including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in both New York City and Washington D.C., Sundance Film Festival, and more. He has traveled the world sharing his stories with audiences in Japan, Peru, England, New Zealand, Singapore, and Italy.