Expressing Appreciation to Joy Harjo: Recognition Acknowledged
Poet, writer, artist, and educator Tanaya Winder, an enrolled member of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, traces her literary journey to her time at Stanford University, where she felt a transformative connection to the works of Native American, Black, and Hispanic women authors.
Winder, who was raised on the Southern Ute reservation in Ignacio, Colorado, recalls her senior year at Stanford, where she took a class by renowned author Cherrie Moraga. It was the first time she encountered a course offering readings exclusively by women of color. Winder felt a sense of belonging for the first time in her academic career, as she discovered literature that resonated with her experiences and cultural background.
Prior to this transformative experience, Winder felt alienated in her English major studies at Stanford, as the curriculum predominantly catered to mainstream writers. At the time, Winder was unaware that her academic suffocation was a result of her environment lacking representation of diverse voices.
"How did I not realize I was suffocating in whiteness? How did I not realize I'd grown accustomed to being silenced by the privileged voices in the room?" Winder asked herself.
It was Cherrie Moraga's class that provided Winder with a safe space to embrace her identity and connect with wordsmiths whose works she could relate to. In this welcoming atmosphere, Winder was able to breathe, speak, and ultimately discover acclaimed poet Joy Harjo.
Joy Harjo, born on May 9, 1951, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, beautifully weaves personal experiences, indigenous oral traditions, and themes of memory, grief, and resilience into her poetry. Her impressive literary works include ten books of poetry, several plays, children's books, two memoirs, and seven music albums.
Harjo has received numerous accolades, such as Yale's 2023 Bollingen Prize for American Poetry, the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ruth Lily Prize from the Poetry Foundation, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and more. She currently serves as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States and continues to shape the landscape of American literature by amplifying Native voices.
Winder's encounter with Harjo's work changed the course of her life, as she decided to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of New Mexico, where Harjo was teaching at the time.
"Joy shows that anything is possible," Winder expressed, emphasizing Harjo's encouragement to explore multiple mediums, such as music, within one's poetry. Joy's literary classes felt akin to ceremonies, inspiring her students to connect with their poetry ancestors and tap into their creative potential.
Winder's time working closely with Joy Harjo solidified their bond, as Harjo mentored and provided guidance on their co-edited collection, "Soul Talk, Song Language," a treasure trove of insightful interviews with Joy herself. Harjo was generous with her knowledge and showed a remarkable lack of ego, consistently championing Winder's artistic growth alongside her own.
Today, Winder considers her mentor and friend Joy Harjo a crucial influence on her career, grateful for Harjo's inspiring legacy and the infinite wisdom she imparts on contemporary discussions of art, indigeneity, and empowerment. Winder regularly offers opportunities for others to benefit from Harjo's teachings and the strength she exudes as a "good relative" who walks her talk.
- Tanaya Winder's literary journey was significantly influenced by the works of Joy Harjo, a celebrated poet known for integrating personal experiences, indigenous oral traditions, and themes like memory, grief, and resilience into her poetry.
- Winder's personal growth as a writer was enhanced by her educational experiences, such as Cherrie Moraga's class that provided a safe space for her to connect with other women of color, as well as the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of New Mexico where she studied under Joy Harjo.
- Beyond literature, Winder's interests span diverse areas, including fashion-and-beauty, entertainment, and celebrity culture, as well as education-and-self-development, and personal-growth.
- Winder's work and teachings continue to be influential in popular culture, particularly in communities appreciating Native American literature, and her legacy is often discussed in broader conversations surrounding art, indigeneity, and empowerment.
