New Poets of Native Nations

Native American Heritage Month

A selection of pivotal works by Indigenous authors.

“A wonderful introduction to the diverse landscape of native voices.” Washington Post

New Poets of Native Nations gathers poets of diverse ages, styles, languages, and tribal affiliations to present the extraordinary range and power of new Native poetry. Editor Heid E. Erdrich has selected twenty-one poets whose first books were published after the year 2000 to highlight the exciting works of poets coming up after Joy Harjo and Sherman Alexie. Collected here are poems of great breadth — long narratives, political outcries, experimental works, and traditional lyrics — and the result is an essential anthology of some of the best poets writing now.

Poets include Tacey M. Atsitty, Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Laura Da’, Natalie Diaz, Jennifer Elise Foerster, Eric Gansworth, Gordon Henry, Jr., Sy Hoahwah, LeAnne Howe, Layli Long Soldier, Janet McAdams, Brandy Nalani McDougall, Margaret Noodin, dg nanouk okpik, Craig Santos Perez, Tommy Pico, Cedar Sigo, M. L. Smoker, Gwen Westerman, Karenne Wood

"Essential. . . . Through this first anthology of US Native poets since 1988, Erdrich offers readers a path into a 'brilliantly lit dimension' that has long been obscured by colonialism in the worlds of academia and cultural production." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“This collection is a breathtaking, wide-ranging work of art....It is a modern classic.” BuzzFeed

“This book is a wonderful, needed, vital breath of air....New Poets of Native Nations is a wonderfully conceived collection, full of exciting juxtapositions, rich language and a fine equipoise between generosity and restraint. It’s safe to say New Poets of Native Nations is an essential read.” Paste Magazine

“A revelatory anthology.” BBC Culture

“[New Poets of Native Nations] is distinctly contemporary in its urgency, diversity and vibrancy.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Heid E. Erdrich is Ojibwe and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She is the author of five collections of poetry, including Curator of Ephemera at the New Museum for Archaic Media, and the editor of New Poets of Native Nations. She lives in Minneapolis.

The birdbaths have frozen here in Minnesota. I step onto the porch and pour some water for the birds. Winter came early and everyone seems a bit unprepared or in denial...

Read More»