Indianz.Com > News > Gaylord News: Poet laureate Joy Harjo begins historic third term
First Native American poet laureate begins third term, releases a memoir
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Cronkite News
Joy Harjo of Oklahoma, the first Native American woman to serve as the nation’s poet laureate, has begun her third term – an honor previously bestowed only once. Robert Pinsky was the first U.S. poet laureate to serve a third term, in 1999.
“Throughout the pandemic, Joy Harjo has shown how poetry can help steady us and nurture us,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “I am thankful she is willing to continue this work on behalf of the country. A third term will give Joy the opportunity to develop and extend her signature project.”
That project is “Living Nations, Living Words,” a sampling of work by 47 Native Nations poets through an interactive ArcGIS Story Map, which visualizes locations and histories of Native poets in the U.S., and a newly developed Library of Congress audio collection.
“Joy is our first Native laureate, but I don’t think the historic nature of her laureateship played a big part in the decision,” Rob Casper, head of Poetry and Literature at the Library of Congress, said of Harjo’s third term. “It was really more about unfinished work.”
Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News. It is published via a Creative Commons license. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
AUDIO: Republican lawmaker blocks Wounded Knee sacred site bill
VIDEO: Republican lawmaker blocks Wounded Knee sacred site bill
Native America Calling: Native in the Spotlight with Mark Trahant
VIDEO: Roll Call on Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission
AUDIO: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998
VIDEO: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998
Republican ally of Donald Trump opposes pick for Indian gaming agency
Native America Calling: Substance abuse treatment remains elusive for hundreds of people after Arizona Medicaid fraud
Native America Calling: Remembering those who stood up to boarding schools
Alaska Native bills on agenda amid limbo in Congressional race
Cronkite News: Donald Trump’s Defense pick faces scrutiny in U.S. Senate
Native America Calling: What to expect on Trump’s first day
Daily Montanan: Drug trafficking ring targeted multiple reservations
Cronkite News: New law requires data collection on Indigenous health needs in California
House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources sets hearing on bill for Crow Tribe
More Headlines
VIDEO: Republican lawmaker blocks Wounded Knee sacred site bill
Native America Calling: Native in the Spotlight with Mark Trahant
VIDEO: Roll Call on Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission
AUDIO: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998
VIDEO: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998
Republican ally of Donald Trump opposes pick for Indian gaming agency
Native America Calling: Substance abuse treatment remains elusive for hundreds of people after Arizona Medicaid fraud
Native America Calling: Remembering those who stood up to boarding schools
Alaska Native bills on agenda amid limbo in Congressional race
Cronkite News: Donald Trump’s Defense pick faces scrutiny in U.S. Senate
Native America Calling: What to expect on Trump’s first day
Daily Montanan: Drug trafficking ring targeted multiple reservations
Cronkite News: New law requires data collection on Indigenous health needs in California
House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources sets hearing on bill for Crow Tribe
More Headlines