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Thank you.

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It's an honor.

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Yes, I prepared a few words.

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So, my first encounter
with the Norton Anthology

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was in high school,
honors English.

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Where the TA for the
class gifted me his copy

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of Post-modern American Poetry.

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Which lacked, as many
other anthologies have,

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any voice from Native nations.

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It would take some
digging on my part,

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and a University Native
literature course

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to expose me to the ancestor
and relative anthologies

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already in print.

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Ancestor and
relative anthologies,

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terms that Poet Laureate Joy
Harjo uses in the introduction

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to "When the Light of
the World Was Subdued,

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Our Songs Came Through."

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A beautiful and
sublime title for

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this paramount and
necessary anthology.

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Like its ancestor and
relative anthologies,

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terms I will wholeheartedly
use and embrace

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in my pedagogy, this
gathering of voices

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from the Native
nations of the US

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exemplifies and amplifies our
stories, histories and presence

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in the landscape and imagination
of contemporary culture.

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As Indigenous peoples,
we've persevered

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through many instances of
darkness and annihilation,

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but we've never stopped singing,
telling story, or harnessing

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the strength of our voices.

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The brilliant
writers and editors

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of this anthology, Joy Harjo,
LeAnne Howe, and Jennifer Elise

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Foerster, as well as the
contributing editor relatives,

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deserve nothing less than
our admiration, respect,

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and deep appreciation for
the continuance of light.

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It is with humility
and honor that I

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am able to introduce: "When
the Light of the World

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Was Subdued, Our Songs
Came Through," an anthology

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of Native Nations poetry.

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