Joy Harjo becomes first Native American to be made US poet laureate

'This country is in need of deep healing. We’re in a transformational moment in national history and earth history'

Newly appointed US poet laureate Joy Harjo (Getty)

Joy Harjo has become the first Native American to be appointed as US poet laureate.

The Oklahoma-born, Muscogee Creek Nation member’s appointment was announced on 19 June by the librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who said that Hargo helped tell an “American story” of traditions both lost and continued, of “reckoning and myth-making”.

Harjo is known for collections including The Woman Who Fell From the Sky and In Mad Love and War.

Her previous honours include the Jackson Prize, which she was given earlier this year, the Pen Open Book Award and the Wallace Stevens Award. She also has a lifetime achievement award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas and the William Carlos Williams award from the Poetry Society of America.

The poet, musician and author will serve as US poet laureate for one year, succeeding Tracy K Smith. The post is officially titled Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, and comes with a $35,000 stipend.

Similar to the UK poet laureate, Harjo will have few official responsibilities but may launch initiatives during her post.

“I don’t have a defined project right now, but I want to bring the contribution of poetry of the tribal nations to the forefront and include it in the discussion of poetry,” she said.

“This country is in need of deep healing. We’re in a transformational moment in national history and earth history, so whichever way we move is going to absolutely define us.”

Harjo has a new book of poetry, An American Sunrise, scheduled for release in August. She is currently editing an anthology of Native poets.

Additional reporting by Associated Press