Gwen Nell Westerman[3] is an educator, writer and fiber artist.
Gwen Westerman PhD | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | poet, educator, and artist |
| Language | Dakota, English |
| Nationality | Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, Cherokee Nation, American[1] |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma State University, BA and MA; University of Kansas, PhD[2] |
| Genre | poetry |
| Website | |
| gwenwesterman | |
She is a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the Director of the Native American Literature Symposium.[4] Governor Tim Walz appointed her as Poet Laureate of Minnesota in September 2021.[1]
Background
editWesterman is Dakota and Cherokee. She is an enrolled citizen of both the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation and the Cherokee Nation.[1] She speaks the Dakota language.[5] Her mother was Cherokee, and Westerman grew up in Kansas.[6]
Education
editWesterman earned her bachelor's and master's degrees English from Oklahoma State University. She received a PhD in English from the University of Kansas.[2]
Teaching career
editShe is Professor of English and Director of the Humanities Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.[7]
Fiber arts
editWesterman is a fiber artist who specialized in quilt-making.[2]
Awards
edit- 1999: Native American Inroads. The Loft, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mentor: Diane Glancy (American).
- 1999: Native American Inroads. The Loft, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mentor: Mona Susan Power (Standing Rock Sioux).
- 2004: Fellowship. The Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History. American Indian Programs. Research project: Traditional Dakota beadwork, under the direction of JoAllyn Archambault, PhD (Standing Rock Sioux).[8]
- 2012: Douglas R. Moore Research Award Fellow. Minnesota State University, Mankato.[8]
- 2012: Presidential Teaching Scholar. Minnesota State, Mankato.[8]
- 2013: Minnesota Book Award, Minnesota Category.[8]
- 2013: Leadership in History Award. American Association for State and Local History.[8]
- 2014: Hognander Minnesota History Award[9]
- 2014: Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Minnesota State University, Mankato.[8]
- 2015: Native American Artist in Residence at the Minnesota Historical Society[10]
Publications
editBooks
edit- Westerman, Gwen; White, Bruce (2012). Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0873518697.
- Westerman, Gwen Neil (2013). Follow the Blackbirds. American Indian Studies. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-1611860924.
Articles and chapters
edit- Westerman, Gwen (2009). "Generosity in Continuance: The Gifts of Simon J. Ortiz". In Brill de Ramirez, Susan Berry; Lucero, Evelina (eds.). Simon J. Ortiz: A Poetic Legacy of Indigenous Continuance. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 177–182. ISBN 978-0826339881.
- Westerman, Gwen (2009). "George Shiras, III". In Cevasco, George A.; Harmond, Richard P. (eds.). Modern American Environmentalists: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 470–472. ISBN 978-0801891526.
- Westerman, Gwen (September 14, 2009). "Going Back". A View from the Loft. The Loft Literary Center. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
- Westerman, Gwen (2012). "Sister Lost, Sister Found: Redemption in Louise Erdrich's The Painted Drum and Shadow Tag". In Hafen, P. Jane (ed.). Critical Insights: Louise Erdrich. Ipswich, MA: Salem Press. pp. 245–255. ISBN 978-1429837231.
- Westerman, Gwen (2013). "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". In Howe, LeAnne; Markowitz, Harvey; Cummings, Denise (eds.). Seeing Red—Hollywood's Pixeled Skins: American Indians and Film. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. pp. 25–29. ISBN 978-1611860818.
Poetry
edit- "Dakota Odowaŋ". Yellow Medicine Review. 1 (1): 133–134. Spring 2007.
- "He keya Wo'okiye". Yellow Medicine Review. 1 (1): 135. Spring 2007.
- "Dakota Odowaŋ". Water-Stone Review. 13: 141–142. 2010.
- "Wowicak'u/Feed Them". Water-Stone Review. 13: 143. 2010.
- "Root Words". Natural Bridge. 26: 1. Fall 2011.
- "Where the Buffalo Roam". Natural Bridge. 26: 2–3. Fall 2011.
- "Awakening". Natural Bridge. 26: 4. Fall 2011.
- "Song for the Generations". Water-Stone Review. 15: 148–149. 2012.
Art
edit- "Caske's Pardon 2012". Ded Uŋk'uŋpi—We Are Here (Exhibit Catalog). All My Relations Gallery and James J. Hill House Gallery. 2012.
- "Mitakuye Owas (All My Relations)". Hena Uŋkiksuyapi: In Commemoration of the Dakota Mass Execution of 1862 (Exhibit Catalog). Hillstrom Museum of Art. 2012.
References
edit- ^ a b c Davis, Angela; Beskstrom, Angela (October 15, 2021). "Meet Minnesota's new poet laureate Gwen Westerman". MPR News. Minneasota Public Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Gwen Westerman, Ph.D." Minnesota State University, Mankato. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Gwen Nell Westerman Poems". Wisdom Ways. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ "About NALS". MNSU.ecu. The Native American Literature Symposium. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ "Gwen Nell Westerman". Poetry Foundation. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ Moore, Jane Turpin (December 1, 1969). "Gwen Westerman, Minnesota's new poet laureate, is grounded in Mankato area". Mankato Free Press. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ "about". Gwen Westerman. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gwen Westerman - Award Winning Faculty". mnsu.edu. College of Arts and Humanities, Minnesota State University, Mankato. 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ Hertzel, Laurie (March 7, 2014). "Hognander History and Kay Sexton awards winners announced". Star-Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ "Native American Artist-in-Residence: Gwen Westerman". History Education MN. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
Further reading
edit- Brown, Curt (October 20, 2012). "NONFICTION: "Mni Sota Makoce, The Land of the Dakota," by Gwen Westerman and Bruce White". Star-Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2012.