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About Joy Harjo: 

Joy Harjo (b. May 9, 1951, Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a celebrated Muscogee (Creek) poet, writer, musician, and activist, best known as the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate (2019–22). Her work deeply reflects Native symbolism, imagery, history, and philosophy, seamlessly woven into universal themes. She often explores Indigenous identity, sovereignty, and feminism, with her poetry resonating with musical influences, especially jazz.

Native Roots and Cultural Identity:

• Harjo is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, with Cherokee, French, and Irish heritage through her mother.
• She adopted the surname “Harjo” from her paternal grandmother, meaning “courage” in Muscogee, emphasizing her pride in her Native roots.
• Harjo grew up in a difficult household but was surrounded by artistic influences and Indigenous storytelling traditions.

Indigenous Education and Activism:

• At age 16, Harjo attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, a transformative period during the contemporary Native art revitalization.
• There, she wrote songs for an all-Native rock band and participated in an all-Native theater group.
• She recalled feeling part of a generational wave of cultural and political awakening in Indian Country, focused on cultural sovereignty.

Academic and Literary Journey:

• Her path to poetry began at the University of New Mexico, where she joined the Kiva Club, a Native student organization involved in political action.
• She was influenced by key figures in the Native American literary renaissance, including Leslie Marmon Silko and Simon Ortiz (with whom she had a child).
• She later earned her M.F.A. from the University of Iowa and studied filmmaking.

Teaching and Legacy:

• Harjo taught at numerous universities, including IAIA, University of New Mexico, and the University of Illinois, where she was a professor of American Indian studies.
• Her work in both academia and literature has consistently elevated Indigenous voices, traditions, and political thought.