The Women’s Nation — Woman as Warrior: A Native American Perspective on Women’s National History Month

Class Description

This class for all genders who identify as a warrior, or who are trying to find the Muse warrior inside, is for beginning or seasoned poets. The native “respect” is a noun which weaves through identities, male, female, two-spirited, more: Indian women performed what Europeans considered to be men’s work. But, from the Native American perspective, women’s roles reflected their own cultural emphases on reciprocity, balance, and autonomy. Most scholars agree that Native American women at the time of contact with Europeans had more authority and autonomy than did European women…However, most cultures shared certain characteristics that promoted gender equality.

Two quotes by Joy Harjo, the first Native American Poet Laureate of our nation, help form our perspective in this respect. The first quote is: Poetry is the art that is closest to music, standing between music and narrative orality (which can be speechmaking, sermon or theater). Poetry is the voice of what can’t be spoken, the mode of truth-telling when meaning needs to rise above or skim below everyday language in shapes not discernible by the ordinary mind. It trumps the rhetoric of politicians. Poetry is prophetic by nature and not bound by time. Because of these qualities poetry carries grief, heartache, ecstasy, celebration, despair, or searing truth more directly than any other literary art form. It is ceremonial in nature. Poetry is a tool for disruption and creation and is necessary for generations of humans to know who they are and who they are becoming in the wave map of history. Without poetry, we lose our way. — On the art of poetry in “An Interview with Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate” in Poets.org (2019 Mar 31)

The second quote is: I am seen as a feminist poet. The way I interpret feminism in my own work is the power of a woman to be a warrior—to recognize the warrior characteristics within herself, which include self-love, vulnerability, honesty, integrity, a sense of morals, and so on…Part of the way I am comes from being around Native American people, but I wouldn’t really use the world ‘spiritual.’ It is natural for human beings to be in awe of the sacred and to realize that the sacred is everywhere. But humans seem to have lost their way, although every once in a while someone may find it, and I think that’s the artist. The artists and the poets are the ones who search for the sacred place. — On finding ways to honor women in “Joy Harjo: An Interview” in Poets & Writers (July/August 1993)

How do we define what poetry is for us, what the process is about, not the event, as we put pen to page or tap the keyboard. And what is the role of the poet holding the pen? Traditionally, the warrior is seen as a man. Joy Harjo’s above definition expands the gender possibilities for the warrior’s identity when such terms as self-love, vulnerability (being receptive to themes, images, stories), honesty, integrity, etc. Harjo: Most readers assume that the events in a poem actually happened to the poet. Not everything I write is autobiographical. In my work, I add to or change the truth. It is still the truth, just presented in a different form…If my style didn’t change and evolve, I would quit writing. Poetry is reciprocal. As poetry feeds you, you have to nurture the art and give it time and attention. It does give back to you, I suppose like anything else (Ibid).

Participants in this class will hear poems by Joy Harjo, Georgiana Valoyce Sanchez, Louise Erdrich, N. Scott Momaday, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Sherwin Bitsui, Sherman Alexie, Kim Shuck, and others. These poets will help the above definitions in concrete, figurative, and indigenous ways. Film clips will also help you in your search to define your warrior or feel like one.

Jim Moreno’s poem-making workshop will be taught on Sunday, March 26, 2023, online in his Zoom meeting room. Participants in the class are welcomed to the Container of respect and safety that are the staples of Moreno’s classes. The first 90-minute segment will include Native women poets, film clips, and poems. The second 90 minutes will feature Native men poets, film clips and poems.

Disclaimers

You will be emailed the Zoom link 24 hours before the start of the class. If you sign up less than 24 hours before the start of the class, please either send us a message via this website or send an email to request your link.

Please note that it is best to register at least a week before the start of a class to help our instructors prepare and ensure that a class does not get canceled or rescheduled. Policies on registration, refunds, cancellations, etc. can be found on our policies page. If you would like to provide feedback regarding this class, please feel free to complete an evaluation form.

Stay Connected on Social Media!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter