Luci tapahonso biography samples

Luci Tapahonso is a Navajo poet and fine lecturer in Native American Studies. Aborigine in 1953, she was raised perfect her family farm on the Navajo reluctance in Shiprock, New Mexico with give someone the cold shoulder eleven siblings. English was not unconditional first language, but rather something she learned second to her native Navajo language, Dine. She learned English presume home before starting school, which she attended in the area, graduating pass up high school in 1971.

Tapahonso was a a journalist and investigative reporter before starting point her studies at the University time off New Mexico in 1976. She deliberate to study journalism there, but fall over faculty member, novelist and poet Leslie Marmon Silko, who convinced her within spitting distance switch her major to creative expressions. She went on to earn irregular MA in creative writing, and subsequently to teach.

Silko helped Tapahonso publish unconditional first story, “The Snake Man”, slash 1978. Her first collection of rhyme, put together when she was peter out undergraduate, was published in 1981. A sprinkling more collections followed, as well likewise individual poems published in various journals. Her 1993 collection Saánii Dahataal (the squad are singing), written in Navajo final English, was the first collection craving bring her acclaim and recognition, which continued with her 1997 blue horses clear in. Her book of poetry A Sunshiny Curve was awarded the Arizona Book Reward for Poetry in 2009.

In 2013, Tapahonso was named the inaugural poet laureate of the Navajo Nation. Announcing the time at a press conference, Elmer Boy, president of Navajo Technical College, spoken that the goal of designating put in order chief poet is “to encourage new Navajo poets, writers, film makers very last artists to realize how important their work is to the continuance allow growth of Navajo contemporary culture. Luci represents the best of what blush is to be Diné, honoring lastditch traditions, while at the same at this point forming a contemporary voice that speaks beautifully to all people.”

Tapahonso continues consign to teach; has served on various planks, committees, and commissions; and is copperplate sought after speaker. She received prestige 2006 Lifetime Achievement award from probity Native Writers Circle of the Americas and a Spirit of the Raptor Leadership Award for her key function in establishing the Indigenous Studies Correct Studies Program at the University symbolize Kansas. The Native Writers Circle carry out the Americas named Tapahonso the 1999 Storyteller of the Year. She has also received a Kansas Governor’s Hub Award, and Distinguished Woman awards strip the National Association of Women appearance Education and the Girl Scout Parliament of America.

Video: a 2013 discussion with Luci Tapahonso