External Websites

The following links to external websites provide more information about the life and works of Native American poet Joy Harjo.

The best starting point for biographical information about Joy Harjo is her official website.

Joy Harjo (Official Web Site) External
This website includes a wealth of information about Harjo's life, writings, and music, along with multimedia content and press information. It also hosts Joy Harjo's official blog External (please note: pre-2014 blog content can be found here External).

Biographical information about Joy Harjo also can be found on the following websites:

Academy of American Poets External
Includes a biography of Harjo, links to selected poems, and more.
Blue Flower Arts External
A biography of Harjo from her literary speakers agency. Includes selected news, reviews, and audio.
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture External
Biography of Harjo.
Ploughshares External
Biography of Harjo from the Winter 2004-05 issue of Ploughshares.
Poetry Foundation External
A biography of Harjo, links to selected poetry and prose, and a bibliography of Harjo's writings and music.

For the latest news and discussions related to Joy Harjo, see:

A selected list of news articles, interviews, and conversations, arranged in chronological order, follows below. For additional articles also see Joy Harjo's official website, which includes interviews, reviews, and articles from 2013 to present External, as well as an archive of pre-2012 articles External.

Selected Articles, News, and Interviews

"Kansas City’s Big Read: US poet laureate paints ‘American Sunrise’ of past and future" External
Kansas City Star. March 28, 2022.
"The Academy of American Poets Leadership Award to be Presented to Joy Harjo, Three-Term U.S. Poet Laureate, During National Poetry Month" External
Academy of American Poets. March 24, 2022.
"First Native poet Joy Harjo uses words to show humanity and importance of genre" External
The Columbus Dispatch. February 13, 2022.
"Joy Harjo named Artist-in-Residence for Dylan Center" External
Tulsa World. January 20, 2022.
"Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Rewrites America’s Myths" External
The Daily Beast. January 16, 2022.
"Joy Harjo is Teaching an Online Masterclass in Poetic Thinking" External
Native News Online. January 11, 2022.
"Poet Joy Harjo Says For 'Indigenous Cultures', the Land 'Is the Keeper of Our Bones, Stories, and Songs'" External
People Magazine. November 24, 2021.
"Joy Harjo, Kristin Chenoweth honored at Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards" External
The Oklahoman. November 10, 2021.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Kicks Off 2021 Big Read" External
Second Wave (Southwest Michigan). October 31, 2021.
"Photo Series: U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Visits UWL" External
The Racquet Press. October 26, 2021.
"Joy Harjo, Kristin Chenoweth to Receive Cultural Designations at Governor's Arts Awards" External
KTUL ABC 8. October 13, 2021.
"Native Poet Laureate Returns To New Mexico" External
The Paper. October 4, 2021.
"Poet Joy Harjo: ‘Remake Our World’" External
Grécourt Gate (Smith College). May 30, 2021.
"Joy Harjo on Words as Maps, and a Poem by Craig Santos Perez" External
Literary Hub. May 25, 2021.
"'I See Them in My Dreams' Says Joy Harjo of MMIW Victims after Screening of 'Say Her Name' & 'Somebody's Daughter' by the Coushatta Tribe" External
Native News Online. May 24, 2021.
"The Healing Power of Poetry: A Conversation with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
The Dallas Morning News. May 23, 2021.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Brings Joy to Emory" External
The Emory Wheel. March 24, 2021.
"Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s Latest Album Arrives as a Witness to the Emotional Undertow of the Moment" External
Vanity Fair. March 5, 2021.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo to Serve Third 1-year Term, Map Project Launches Today" External
Tulsa World. November 19, 2020.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo to Serve Third 1-Year Term" External
Associated Press. November 19, 2020.
"Joy Harjo will Serve a Rare Third Term as U.S. Poet Laureate" External
PBS NewsHour. November 19, 2020.
"United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Speaks on Poetry, Time at Iowa" External
The Daily Iowan. November 11, 2020.
"America Starts Here: On 'When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry'" External
Los Angeles Review of Books. November 9, 2020.
"Joy Harjo on How a New Native Poetry Anthology Fills a Gap in American Literature" External
PBS NewsHour. October 9, 2020.
"Tulsa's Joy Harjo Talks Second Term as U.S. Poet Laureate, Quarantine" External
Tulsa World. May 17, 2020.
"Joy Harjo is Named U.S. Poet Laureate for a Second Term" External
The New York Times. April 30, 2020.
"Joy Harjo Gets A Second Term As U.S. Poet Laureate" External
NPR. April 30, 2020.
"Oklahoman Joy Harjo named to second term as U.S. Poet Laureate" External
The Oklahoman. April 30, 2020.
"The Washington Post and Library of Congress Spotlight Poets Laureate in New Weekly Video Series During National Poetry Month" External
The Washington Post. April 10, 2020.
"A Q&A with Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States" External
The Christian Science Monitor. April 1, 2020.
Joy Harjo – 2019 US Poet Laureate" External
Canterbury Christ Church University blog. March 31, 2020.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Selects 22 Poems for Poem-a-Day Series in Honor of National Poetry Month in April 2020" External
Academy of American Poets. March 25, 2020.
"Joy Harjo: 'Words were materials – colors and flowers dancing on a page'" External
Indian Country Today. January 30, 2020.
"US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Visits CCS" External
College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara. February 7, 2020.
"'Everyone Wants a Place where They Feel Safe,' Says Joy Harjo, the First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
The Washington Post. January 14, 2020.
U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Inspires Other Montana Poets" External
Montana Standard. November 10, 2019.
"Meet The United States’ First Native American Poet Laureate" [video] External
Sunday TODAY. October 20, 2019.
U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo on Opening a ‘Doorway of Hope’ for Indigenous Artists External
PBS NewsHour. September 19, 2019.
"Governor Proclaims 'U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Day'" External
Oklahoma Arts Council. September 6, 2019.
"Joy Harjo, the Poet of American Memory" External
The New Yorker. August 29, 2019.
"The First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate on How Poetry Can Counter Hate" External
Time. August 22, 2019.
"Joy Harjo’s New Poetry Collection Brings Native Issues to the Forefront" External
Smithsonian.com. August 13, 2019.
"Speaking Poetry with a Pathbreaking Poet Laureate" External
Washington Examiner. August 8, 2019.
"First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Shares a Poem From Her New Collection" External
Elle. August 5, 2019.
"Ucross to honor United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
The Southern Ute Drum. July 19, 2019.
"‘Poetry is About Listening’ Says Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
Indian Country Today. July 14, 2019.
"Oklahoma's Soul Talker: US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
News 9 (Oklahoma City). July 5, 2019.
"Harjo’s Appointment is Poetic Justice to Celebrate" External
Albuquerque Journal, June 30, 2019.
"First Native American Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo Talks about Her Latest Achievement" External
KTUL 8 ABC. June 25, 2019.
"Tulsan is Named First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
KJRH-TV. June 24, 2019.
"WashU Expert: First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate will Inspire the Nation" External
The Source. June 24, 2019.
"Joy Harjo: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know" External
Heavy.com. June 21, 2019.
"Muscogee (Creek) citizen Joy Harjo named US Poet Laureate" External
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation. June 21, 2019.
"Tulsan Joy Harjo Named U.S. Poet Laureate, Making History With Wednesday's Announcement" External
Tulsa World. June 20, 2019.
"Former UI Professor becomes First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
The News-Gazette. June 20, 2019.
"Harjo Named US Poet Laureate" External
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, News. June 20, 2019.
"Cole Congratulates Joy Harjo on Historic Appointment" External
Website of Rep. Tom Cole (Oklahoma's Fourth Congressiinal District). June 19, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Becomes First Native American Named U.S. Poet Laureate" External
PBS NewsHour. June 19, 2019.
"Former NM Resident Joy Harjo Named U.S. Poet Laureate" External
Albuquerque Journal. June 19, 2019.
"Why America's First Native American Poet Laureate Gives Me Hope" External
CNN. June 19, 2019.
"America's Poet Laureate is Tulsa Native Joy Harjo" External
Oklahoma Today Magazine. June 2019 (originally published in the September-October 1993 issue of Oklahoma Today Magazine.)
“United States’ First Native American Poet Laureate is Joy Harjo” External
USA Today. June 19, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Becomes The First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
NPR. June 19, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Appointed U.S. Poet Laureate, First Native American to Hold the Title" External
Los Angeles Times. June 19, 2019.
"Native American Writer Joy Harjo is the Next U.S. Poet Laureate" External
The Washington Post. June 19, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Is Named U.S. Poet Laureate" External
The New York Times. June 19, 2019,
"Joy Harjo is First Native American Named US Poet Laureate" External
Associated Press. June 19, 2019.
"An Interview with Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate" External
Academy of American Poets. June 17, 2019. See also associated videos.
"Poet Joy Harjo Wins $65,000 Jackson Prize" External
AP News. April 25, 2019.
"'I am still listening': A conversation with Joy Harjo" External
The Yale Herald. March 29, 2019.
"An Interview with Poet Joy Harjo to Celebrate The Big Read" External
The Jitney. March 6, 2019.
"Professor Named Chancellor of Academy of American Poets" External
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. January 21, 2019.
"Memory, a Living Being: A Conversation with Joy Harjo" External
Shenandoah. Spring 2019.
"Interview with Poet Joy Harjo" External
The Magazine. January 30, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Talks Memoir, Poetry, and Diversity in Publishing" External
Read Poetry. April 25, 2019.
BOMB Magazine Interview - Sherwin Bitsui by Joy Harjo External
BOMB. December 5, 2018.
"Interview: Joy Harjo" External
The Florida Review Online. October 8, 2018.
"Speaking Poetry to Power: Joy Harjo" External
Pasatiempo, The New Mexican. August 17, 2018.
"Interview with Joy Harjo" External
Pine Reads Review. December 22, 2017.
"The People Saving 'Lost' Words" External
BBC Culture, BBC. October 13, 2017.
"Interview with Joy Harjo about 'Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings'" External
Kenyon Review. July 20, 2017.
"Joy Harjo Follows the Spirit of Her Native American Roots" External
Chicago Sun-Times. June 11, 2017.
"Beyond Language: Joy Harjo on Writing Her Life in Poetry" External
Poetry Foundation. May 9, 2017.
"Joy Harjo Awarded 2017 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize" External
Poetry Foundation. May 9, 2017.
"A Look Back at Our Climate Change + Poetry Series" External
1508 blog, The University of Arizona Poetry Center. March 30, 2017.
"Acclaimed Poet Joy Harjo Describes Influence of Her Mvskoke Heritage" External
The Cornell Daily Sun. September 18, 2016.
"8 Poets Share Their Favorite Words" External
Words at Play blog, Merriam-Webster. June 2016.
"Exclusive: Joy Harjo Speaks on Winning Poetry’s Most Prestigious Award" External
Indian Country Today. September 11, 2015.
"Joy Harjo: An Unstoppable Force" External
NEA Arts Magazine. 2015, Number 2.
"The Knowing" External
Native Daughters. December 9, 2013.
"Award-winning Joy Harjo on the Binds of Culture and More" External
So to Speak. November 29, 2013.
"Having to Fight for It: An Interview with Poet / Musician Joy Harjo" External
Sampsonia Way. November 15, 2013.
"Writing The Story: My Interview With Joy Harjo" External
Recovering The Self. May 3, 2013.
"Joy Harjo: A Preview" External
PEN America. April 22, 2013.
"The Rumpus Interview with Joy Harjo" External
The Rumpus. February 20, 2013.
"Interview with Joy Harjo" External
As Us. February 6, 2013.
'Already gone: a profile of Native American poet Joy Harjo" External
High Country News. October 25, 2012.
"Crazy Brave: Joy Harjo Found That the Hardest Story to Tell Was Her Own" External
Indian Country Today. October 1, 2012.
"Crazy Brave: An Interview with Joy Harjo and Review of Her New Memoir" External
Literary Mama. September 2012.
"Joy Harjo Interview" External
Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature. December 4, 2006. (Originally Published in Humanities Interview, Winter 2008.)
"So Brave She’s Crazy An Interview with Poet Joy Harjo" External
World Literature, Medium.com. March 16, 2015. (Interview conducted in 2008.)
"Interview with Joy Harjo" External
Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments. October 22, 2006.
"Joy Harjo: An Interview" External
Poets & Writers. July 1, 1993.

A selection of radio programs featuring Joy Harjo or in which Harjo and her work are discussed.

"Musician's Spotlight: Joy Harjo" External
Montana Public Radio. February 22, 2022.
"A KSUT Conversation with Writer, Musician, and Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
KSUT - Four Corners Public Radio. January 21, 2022.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Pays Homage to Art and Ancestors in Her New Memoir, 'Poet Warrior'" External
CBC Radio. January 20, 2022.
"In a Powerful Memoir, Poet Joy Harjo Talks about Finding Her Voice and Using It" External
NPR. November 3, 2021.
"A Conversation with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
Think, KERA. October 8, 2021.
"Joy Harjo Finds Spiritual Understanding through Music and Poetry" External
Wisconsin Public Radio. October 9, 2021.
"Joy Harjo on Inspiration Behind Memoir 'Poet Warrior'" External
All Things Considered, NPR. October 9, 2021.
"'Poet Warrior' Joy Harjo Wants Native Peoples To Be Seen As Human" External
Fresh Air, NPR. September 7, 2021.
"A Conversation With U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
1A, NPR. May 11, 2021.
"U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Leads MSU's Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebrations" External
Montana Public Radio. October 12, 2020.
"Anthology Of Native Nations Poetry Is A 'Doorway,' Says Editor Joy Harjo" External
All Things Considered, NPR. September 12, 2020.
"Village Voice: Celebrating The Work Of Joy Harjo" External
Boston Public Radio. May 25, 2020.
"A Conversation With Joy Harjo, The First Native American Poet Laureate" External
On Point, WBUR. June 26, 2019.
"Meet Joy Harjo, The 1st Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
Morning Edition, NPR. June 21, 2019.
"What the First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate Means to Indigenous People" External
The Takeaway, WNYC. June 20, 2019.
"Joy Harjo Becomes The First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate" External
All Things Considered, NPR. June 19, 2019.
Bringing Traditional Themes Into Contemporary Writing External
The State of Things, WUNC | North Carolina Public Radio. April 13, 2018.
"KSUT's Tami Graham Speaks With Joy Harjo" External
KSUT. February 9, 2018.
"American Poet Joy Harjo" External
Books and Arts, RN. August 23, 2017.
Joy Harjo on Poets Cafe External
Poets Cafe, KPFK Los Angeles. March 9, 2017.
"'We were There': Joy Harjo on the Forgotten Origins of Jazz" External
MPR News. June 22, 2016.
"Joy Harjo Talks to the Bees" External
The Gift poetry series, WBEZ Chicago. April 22, 2013.
"Joy Harjo and 'Crazy Brave'" External
Public Radio Tulsa. October 1, 2012.
"Women Under Siege, FeministFilm & ‘Crazy Brave’" External
Feminist Magazine. July 17, 2012.
"Joy Harjo's 'Crazy Brave' Path To Finding Her Voice" External
Talk of the Nation, NPR. July 9, 2012.
Joy Harjo | Cassie Premo Steele's Co-Creating Show Cassie Premo Steele's Co-Creating Show External
Cassie Premo Steele's Co-Creating Show Cassie Premo Steele's Co-Creating Show. March 11, 2011.
"Joy Harjo (Mvskoke)" External
Red Town Radio. July 25, 2009.
"A Sacred Connection to the Sun" External
Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR. July 8, 2007.

Podcasts and other non-radio audio recordings featuring Joy Harjo are listed below.

"Poet Joy Harjo describes the importance of the new Bob Dylan Center" External
Goldmine. March 4, 2022.
"A Conversation with US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo" External
The Diane Rehm Book Club. February 25, 2022.
"Suzi F. Garcia in Conversation with Joy Harjo" External
The Poetry Magazine Podcast. January 11, 2022.
"Joy Harjo: The Whole of Time" External
On Being podcast. May 13, 2021.
"I Release You, Fear" External
The New York Times. May 20, 2020.
Joy Harjo on Her Role as the First Native American Poet Laureate of the U.S. External
Post Reports podcast, The Washington Post. June 28, 2019. Segment on Harjo starts at 26:01.
"The Homecoming — Joy Harjo" External
TulTalk. April 17, 2019.
"Joy Harjo – VIDA Voices & Views" External
Voices and Views, VIDA. March 13, 2019.
"Native Voice Joy Harjo Draws On Tribal Myth & History In Celebrating Nature" External
Poetry and Planet podcast, EathTalk.org. February 4, 2019.
"The Poetry and Music of Joy Harjo" External
Poetry Off the Shelf, Poetry Foundation. June 6, 2017.

Many videos of Joy Harjo reading and discussing her work can be found through the following sources.

JoyHarjo.com External
Joy Harjo's official website includes approximate three dozen videos featuring Harjo reading and discussing her writing, as well as performing her music.
YouTube - "Joy Harjo" search results External
Numerous videos of Harjo reading and performing her work appear through this YouTube search on her name. See also her YouTube channel External for a selection of readings, interviews, and more.
"Gather in Poems: A Virtual Reading" External
The Academy of American Poets. November 24, 2020. Introduced by Joy Harjo. Includes poems by Harjo and former poet laureate Robert Hass.
"Joy Harjo: 'What joins us together is poetry''" External
The Washington Post. April 10, 2020.

Selected online reviews of Joy Harjo's poetry, prose, and children's books appear below.

Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate: A Resource Guide

General Inquiries: Ask a Librarian

External Websites

Selected Articles, News, and Interviews

Poetry Reviews

Poet Warrior: A Memoir (2021)

An American Sunrise (2019)

Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems (2015)

How We became Human: New and Selected Poems (2002)

A Map to the Next World: Poetry and Tales (2000)

The Woman Who Fell from the Sky: Poems (1996)

Prose

Poet Warrior: A Memoir (2021)

Crazy Brave: A Memoir (2012)

Children's Books

For a Girl Becoming (2009)

The Good Luck Cat (2000)