2024 Mentoring Retreat

Twin Cities, MN

In this our third annual Mentoring Retreat, In-Na-Po emphasized #LanguageBack, building on our initiative to support Indigenous language revitalization through poetry. We had three esteemed Indigenous faculty to lead our new and returning Fellows in workshops--Layli Long Soldier, Gwen Westerman, and Gordon Henry. Additional prize-winning visiting writers included Marcie Rendon, Elise Paschen, and Linda Legarde Grover. As we met in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, we had taken time to visit tribal sites and host visits by several noted Native leaders including the world-renowned author Louise Erdrich.

“These Indigenous-focused gatherings help build a strong community for emerging writers. Indigenous Nations Poets is delighted to see many of our Fellows now releasing books or finishing manuscripts. But equally as significant is the powerful way they put their writing to work--weaving Indigenous values into their poetry at a time when the world desperately needs these teachings.”

-Kimberly Blaeser, IN-NA-PO Founding Director

A cohort of 16 fellows, faculty, and guests participated in workshops, inter-art activities, and panel discussions at the Minnesota Humanities Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The 2024 Fellows consisted of writers from various locations across the U.S. They were selected from a highly competitive applicant pool. The poets represent diverse Indigenous Nations and bring a wide range of unique styles and interests. The 2024 cohort includes eight new fellows and eight returning fellows. The selected new fellows and their Indigenous and Native Nations are as follows: Bonney Hartley (Mohican), Chris Hoshnic (Diné), Sarah Milner (Odawa), Tyler Mitchell (Diné), Ruby Hansen Murray (Osage, Cherokee), Sunni Parisien (Chippewa), Sareya Taylor (Apache, Diné), Anangookwe Wolf (Anishinaabe, Assiniboine, Dakota).

Mission Statement

Founded in 2020, In-Na-Po—Indigenous Nations Poets—is a national Indigenous poetry community committed to mentoring emerging writers, nurturing the growth of Indigenous poetic practices, and raising the visibility of all Native Writers past, present, and future. In-Na-Po recognizes the role of poetry in sustaining tribal sovereign nations and Native languages.