Benjamin V. Burgess is a writer, artist, and teacher. He grew up at Little Earth in Minneapolis. He is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe. His mother is from the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He draws inspiration for his creative works from experiences in all three communities. He has a Ph.D. in Native American Studies from the University of California Davis, and is working on his Creative Writing MFA at Hamline University.