Inupiaq poet Joan Naviyuk Kane stops in to talk about her poetry, her experience as an indigenous writer, the difficulties she encountered within MFA programs, the influence of landscape and the Inupiaq language on her writing, and more. Joan also reads some of her wonderful poetry.
About Joan Naviyuk Kane
Joan Naviyuk Kane is the author of two books of poetry: Hyperboreal (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013) and The Cormorant Hunter’s Wife (NorthShore Press, 2009). Her honors include the Association of Writers & Writing Programs’ Donald Hall Prize and a Whiting Writers’ Award. An Alaska Native and member of the Inupiaq people—with family from King Island and Mary’s Igloo—Kane teaches at the Institute of American Indian Arts and lives in Anchorage.