By: Writing Barn Intern Katarina Rodriguez
It’s Native American Heritage month, and to celebrate, we’re highlighting some incredible Indigenous writers. From authors to poets, here’s a list you absolutely have to check out!
Layli Long Soldier
Layli Long Soldier is a poet, writer, feminist, artist, and activist who’s work brings up aspects of her life as a dual citizen of the U.S and the Ogalala Lakota Nation. Her poetry has appeared in The New York Times, BOMB, and Poetry magazine collection with works such as WHEREAS, OBLIGATIONS 2, and TALENT. She’s also featured in NATIVE VOICES: INDIGENOUS AMERICAN POETRY, CRAFT AND CONVERSATIONS. Check out this interview with Layli Long Soldier at DIVEDAPPER from 2017 where she gave insight to the type of work she was doing.
Billy-Ray Belcourt
Billy-Ray Belcourt is from the Driftpile Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. He is an award-winning poet, author and scholar who’s work often reflects his experiences as a queer indigenous man. His books include THIS WOUND IS A WORLD, NDN COPING MECHANISMS, and A HISTORY OF MY BRIEF BODY. See Belcourt’s website and find out more about him and his work here.
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Our dear friend Cynthia Leitich Smith is a best-selling, award-winning Young Adult/Picture Book author who currently resides on Jumanos, Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche), Sana, and Tonkawa ancestral land in what’s now called the city of Austin. She’s a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, and her books bring forth that Native representation indigenous youth deserve. Some of her books include RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME, HEARTS UNBROKEN, JINGLE DANCER, SISTERS OF THE NEVER SEA, and ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS. Find Cynthia’s website for more books and her Cynsations blog!
N. Scott Momaday
N. Scott Momaday is a Kiowa author, essayist, poet and short story writer with most of his work delving into his Native heritage. He’s won both the National Medal of Arts and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A few of his books include EARTH KEEPER: REFLECTIONS ON THE AMERICAN LAND, THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN, THE DEATH OF SITTING BEAR, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SUN which usually include a mix of short stories and poems that recount fables and rituals of the Kiowa nation.
Esther Belin
Esther Belin is a Diné artist and poet. She’s a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her work is a reflection of her experiences of being a Native American living in Los Angeles, as well as explores themes of racism, alienation and substance abuse. Some of her poetry includes WHEN ROOTS ARE EXPOSED, BRINGING HANNAH HOME, NIGHT TRAVEL, and BLUES-ING ON THE BROWN VIBE . Learn some more about about Navajo Poetry on her website.
David Treuer
David Treuer is an award-winning Ojibwe Indian author from the Leech Lake Reservation in Northern Minnesota. He’s received the Pushcart Prize and his work had also been named the editor’s pick by the Washington Post, Time Out, and City Pages. REZ LIFE: AN INDIAN’S JOURNEY THROUGH RESERVATION LIFE, THE HEARTBEAT OF WOUNDED KNEE: NATIVE AMERICA FROM 1890 TO THE PRESENT, THE HIAWATHA: A NOVEL, and PRUDENCE: A NOVEL. Find more on David through his website.
About the Writer
Katarina Rodriguez is a senior at St. Edward’s University, studying to receive her BA in Writing and Rhetoric. She’s originally from Galveston, Texas and is a board member for The Ricky Roa Memorial Scholarship fund. Her love for writing began at a young age, and she mostly enjoys writing poetry and short fiction. Some of her favorite genres include mystery, romance, thriller and science fiction. Outside of writing, Katarina loves to read, cook, sing, play her ukulele, watch softball and annoy her three cats.